Semaphore
/ˈsɛməfɔːr/noun
A system of sending messages by visual signals, especially using flags, lights, or mechanical arms.
Did you know?Semaphore was coined in French from Greek roots during the 19th century, turning the ancient idea of a “sign-bearer” into one of the earliest high-speed signal technologies.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
sēma
“a sign, mark, token, or signal”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phoros
“bearing, carrying”
1790s
French
sémaphore
“a visual signaling device or system”
Early 19th Century
English
semaphore
“a system of visual signaling using flags, arms, or lights”
Modern English
English
semaphore
“a method of sending messages by visible signals”
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