foghorn

American  

[fog-hawrn, fawg-] / ˈfɒgˌhɔrn, ˈfɔg- /

noun

1. a deep, loud horn for sounding warning signals in foggy weather, as to ships.

2. a deep, loud voice.

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foghorn British  

/ ˈfɒɡˌhɔːn /

noun

1. a mechanical instrument sounded at intervals to serve as a warning to vessels in fog

2. informal a loud deep resounding voice

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Etymology

Origin of foghorn

First recorded in 1855–60; fog ¹ + horn

Explanation

A foghorn is a warning signal that makes a loud noise when it's very foggy. The sound of a foghorn is a warning to sailors and ship captains. On foggy days near the coast, you might hear the repeated low, loud sound of a foghorn. Its warning noise lets those at sea know when they're approaching a rocky coastline or other obstacles they can't see in the fog. The earliest foghorns were gongs or bells that had to be manually hit, or in some cases cannons that were fired repeatedly as long as the fog lasted.

Example Sentences

To the human ear, the hum might sound like a single note on a French horn or a foghorn.

From Science Daily • Jan. 3, 2024

Once a prehistoric denizen of the deeps, it comes ashore on a tsunami tide, tall as a thunderhead, shrugging off artillery as it bellows a foghorn scream.

From Scientific American • Nov. 3, 2023

Coast Guard Station Southwest Harbor, which is responsible for the navigational aid, removed the light for repairs on Monday and is still working on getting the foghorn working, he said.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 2, 2023

As I arrived on Anacapa Island, my vision of an idyllic slice of the natural world was shattered by a loud moan — the sound of the foghorn.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2023

He listened and then finally, at about one- thirty, he laid hard on his foghorn.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson