klaxonn.
/ˈklaksn/, U.S. /ˈklæks(ə)n/ Originally U.S.
An (electric) horn or warning hooter, originally one on a motor vehicle. Also klaxon-horn.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sound of horn > [noun] > horn or hooter
post-horna1652
steam-trumpet1801
blast-horn1844
fish-horn1856
hooter1878
klaxon1910
beep-beep1929
1910 Sat. Evening Post 17 Sept. 48 The Klaxon has never taken a life; it has saved thousands.
1911 N.Y. Times 16 Oct. 12/7 Speedometer, slip covers, pigskin upholstery and klaxon.
1914 Autocar 4 July 44/2 The Klaxon will emit a short, sharp, deep-toned note.
1917 ‘Contact’ Airman's Outings 66 A signal rocket streaked from the first Boche biplane, and the trio dived almost vertically, honking the while on Klaxon horns.
1918 R. H. Knyvett ‘Over There’ with Australians iv. xx. 199 These noises were made chiefly with klaxon horns.
1920 Motor Manual (ed. 23) xv. 150 The electrically-operated Klaxon horn.
1922 Encycl. Brit. XXXII. 492/2 Acoustic signals have not been generally successful with the exception of the Klaxon horn in aircraft.
1922 Blackwood's Mag. May 654/2 Have a hand Klaxon fitted to your left hand. Nothing but a Klaxon can make itself heard above the din of the lorries.
1923 Blackwood's Mag. July 22/2 Aeroplanes..sailed against the sky, their klaxons sounding.
1924 B. Gilbert Bly Market 343 Emery Stamp sounded his klaxon.
1949 Reader's Digest Apr. 140/2 It was a gray Pierce Arrow, equipped with two bulb horns and an electric Klaxon.
1965 ‘J. le Carré’ Looking-glass War 8 He heard the klaxons,..moaning out over the godforsaken airfield like the howl of starving animals.
1973 P. Evans Bodyguard Man i. 14 The evening traffic was thick, shrill with sudden braking and klaxon noise.
Derivatives
ˈklaxon v. (intransitive) to sound a klaxon; also transitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sound of horn > [verb (intransitive)]
poopc1390
hoot1883
honk1895
klaxon1924
parp1968
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sound of horn > [verb (transitive)]
honk1908
pip1918
klaxon1924
parp1968
1924 G. Frankau Gerald Cranston's Lady iv. 48 Lees, Klaxoning furiously, slackened pace round the dangerous stone-wall turning.
1971 Daily Tel. 15 Sept. 12 There are two sides to every situation, once the Press, television and radio have ‘klaxoned’ the story to the general public.
1973 G. Beare Snake on Grave vii. 35 A little white Fiat klaxoning shrilly.
ˈklaxoning n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sound of horn > [noun]
seekc1500
poopa1556
gibbet1590
honking1844
tra-ra1900
hoot1904
honk1905
honk-honk1908
klaxoning1922
beep-beep1929
parp1936
1922 E. V. Lucas Genevra's Money vi. 38 The almost constant clatter and Klaxoning of motor-cars and lorries on the high-roads.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1910