Beacon
/ˈbiː.kən/noun
A fire or light set up as a signal, especially on a hill or tower.
Did you know?The word comes from Old English *bēacen*, meaning a sign or signal, and it was used for everything from guiding travelers to warning whole kingdoms of danger.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deuk-
“to lead, show, or draw attention”
Old English
OE
bēacen
“a sign, signal, or portent”
Middle English
ME
becon
“a signal fire or guiding light”
Modern English
English
beacon
“a guiding light or signal”