A Chain of Beacons Could Cross England in Hours
A beacon is a signal fire or light. Before the telegraph, hilltop fires were the fastest long-distance message system there was.
A beacon is a fire or light used as a signal or guide. Britain maintained a national network of them for centuries: hilltop fires lit in sequence could carry warning of invasion the length of the country in a matter of hours, far faster than any rider. Many hills called Beacon still carry the name from that system.
- A signal fire or light. *Light the beacon.*
- A guiding light. *A harbour beacon.*
- A source of inspiration. *A beacon of hope.*
- A radio transmitter. *A distress beacon.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | beacon | A flashing beacon. |
| Plural | beacons | Coastal beacons. |
| Compound | Belisha beacon | A Belisha beacon. |
| Related | lighthouse | A working lighthouse. |
| Related | signal | A distress signal. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Beacons were lit along the coast.Historical warning system.
- A Belisha beacon marks the crossing.The orange globe at a British zebra crossing.
- The device transmits a distress beacon.Modern rescue equipment.
Kinds of beacon
- Signal fire — the original, on hilltops
- Lighthouse — a permanent navigational light
- Belisha beacon — the flashing globe at British pedestrian crossings, named after a transport minister
- Radio beacon — transmits a position signal
- Emergency locator beacon — activated by aircraft and ships in distress
From Old English *beacen*, a sign or portent, related to German *Bake*. It narrowed from any sign to a signal fire.
Why is it a Belisha beacon?
After Leslie Hore-Belisha, the British transport minister who introduced them in 1934.
How fast were beacon chains?
Warnings could travel hundreds of miles in a few hours, limited mainly by how quickly watchers spotted the previous fire.