lowbell

1 of 2

noun

plural lowbells

1

: a small bell (as for the neck of a sheep or cow)

2

archaic : a bell used with a sudden casting of light to frighten, stupefy, and capture birds

lowbell

2 of 2

transitive verb

obsolete

: to frighten or capture by or as if by the use of a lowbell

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps from low entry 4 + bell

First Known Use

Noun

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Transitive Verb

1642, in the meaning defined above

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