foghorn

[ fog-hawrn, fawg- ]

noun

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

foghorn

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of foghorn¹

First recorded in 1855–60; fog ¹ + horn

Example Sentences

“They killed Foghorn Leghorn, right in front of his teammates,” says one historian.

From The Daily Beast

Dreyfuss enthusiastically deploys the Foghorn Leghorn manner of the mid-19th century pre-microphone politician.

From The Daily Beast

You know at Yale they called him 'Foghorn' Harwood, and they put him in front to lead the cheering at all the big games.

From Project Gutenberg

The musician, smiling and tousled, was at my bedside, raising a foghorn to his lips with deadly intention.

From Project Gutenberg

I hoped to do so without help, by using the edge of the sand; but if he heard a long whistle he was to blow the foghorn.

From Project Gutenberg

We hove-to, keeping the foghorn going with its melancholy bray.

From Project Gutenberg

Night was coming on and, to accent the loneliness, from somewhere in the dusky dimness a great foghorn groaned at intervals.

From Project Gutenberg