Tocsin Tahk Sun Noun Alarm Bell Warning Signal Middle

An alarm bell or a warning signal.

[From Middle French toquassen, from Provençal tocasenh, from tocar (to touch) + senh (bell).]

"In an unprecedented collaboration to sound the tocsin, Nature and Foreign Affairs have recently devoted special issues to the 'plausible scenario' of a pandemic that kills millions and wrecks the global economy." - Mike Davis; Avian Flu: A State of Unreadiness; The Nation (New York); Jul 18, 2005.