signa 
signa, n. Plural of sign u HI. 
signable (si'na-bl), a. [< sign + -ablc.J 1. Ca- 
pable of being signed ; requiring to be signed : 
as, a deed signable by A. B. 2. Capable of 
signing. [Rare.] 
I commit the paper to your 'discretion. If signable peo- 
ple should fall in your way, or if unsignable, . . . use it. 
Canning, To Malinesbury, Diaries and Correspondence, 
Signal (sig'nal), a. and . [< ME. signal, n., < 
OF. signal, F". signal = Pr. segnal, senlial, set/mil 
= Sp. serial = Pg. sinal = It. segnale, signal, as 
a noun a signal, = D. signaal = G. Sw. Dan. 
signal, a signal, < ML. *signalis, belonging to a 
sign, neut. signale, a signal, < L. signum, a sign: 
see sign. Cf.seflal.] I. a. 1. Constituting, or 
serving as, a typical sign or index ; especially 
conspicuous or noteworthy; strikingly uncom- 
mon : as, a signal example ; a signal failure ; sig- 
nal prosperity. 
She is gon to receive the reward of her signal charity, 
and all other her Christian graces. 
Evelyn, Diary, Sept. 9, 1678. 
The ministers were told that the nation expected and 
should have signal redress. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. 
The state requires thy signal punishment. 
Landor, I mag. Convers., Peter the Great and Alexis. 
The instinct of the mind, the purpose of nature, betrays 
itself in the use we make of the signal narrations of his- 
tory. Emerson, History. 
2. Of high grade or quality ; eminent ; great ; 
elevated: applied to persons and feelings. 
[Rare.] 
As signal now In low dejected state, 
As erst in highest, behold him where he lies. 
Milton, 8. A., 1. 33S. 
The signal criminal suffered decently. 
It. Walpde, quoted in N. and Q., 7th ser., III. 416. 
= 8yn. Conspicuous, extraordinary. 
Li. n. If. Sign; token; indication. 
He rode him forth, and in his houde 
He bore the signal of his londe. 
Ooicer, Conf. Amant., vi. 
Meantime, in signal of my love to thee, . . . 
Will I upon thy party wear this rose. 
Shak., 1 Hen. VI., ii. 4. 121. 
The mercy of God hath singled out but few to be the 
signals of his justice. Sir T. Brou-tie, Christ. Mor. , ii. 11. 
2. A conventional or intelligible sign designed 
for information or guidance ; an object dis- 
played, a motion made, a light shown, a sound 
given out, or the like, for direction to or com- 
munication with a person or persons (espe- 
cially at a distance) apprised of or able to rec- 
ognize its intended meaning : as, to hoist, 
sound, or make a signal ; military and naval 
signals ; a warning signal ; a book of signals 
(see signal-book). Occasions for the use of formal 
signals abound particularly in military operations, navi- 
gation, railroading, and telegraphing (especially by means 
of semaphores) ; and the methods and devices employed 
are almost innumerable. See cut under semaphore. 
Stir not until the signal. Shak., J. C., v. 1. 26. 
Presently they gaue the signall to Hernand Teillo, that 
lay under the towne with his ambuscado. 
Coryat, Crudities, I. 21. 
Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in pass- 
ing, 
Only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness. 
Longfellou; Wayside Inn, Elizabeth, st. iv. 
3. An inciting action or movement; an exciting 
cause ; an initial impulse : as, this tyrannous 
act was the signal for insurrection. 
To see the truth first, and to act in accordance with it, 
has been for ages the signal for martyrdom. 
A'. A. Rev., CXLII. 539. 
Bellows-signal, in organ-buildiny, a mechanism, con- 
trolled from a stop-knob, by which the player indicates to 
the bellows-blower when to begin filling the bellows. 
Block-signal system. Same as block system (which see, 
under Woc*2). Break-signal, in teleg., a signal used to 
separate different parts of a message. Cautionary sig- 
nal, a yellow flag with white center, hoisted by the United 
States Weather Bureau at sea-coast and lake stations when 
winds are anticipated that will be dangerous to light craft. 
Code of Signals, a system of rules for communication 
by means of signals, as between vessels at sea. The " Inter- 
national Code of Signals for the Use of all Nations," a sig- 
nal-book printed in the languages of all maritime countries, 
assigns arbitrary meanings to different arrangements of 
flags or displays of lights, which are thus intelligible to all 
possessing the book. Cold- wave Signal, a signal con- 
sisting of a white flag six or eight feet square, with a black 
center about two feet square, displayed by the United 
States Weather Bureau when the temperature is expected 
to fall 20' JT. ormorein twenty-four hours,and to be below 40 
'.Interlocking system of signals. See interlock. 
Nautical signal, a signal serving as a means of communi- 
cation between vessels at sea, or between a vessel and the 
shore. It consists of flags of different colors for use in 
the daytime, or of lanterns or fireworks at night. The 
various combinations of flags or of lanterns express each 
some phrase or sentence that may be necessary in direct- 
ing the movements of a fleet or a single vessel, answering 
signals of other vessels, making known the wants of the 
vessel displaying it, or simply for communicating infor- 
mation. On a smaller scale, a single flag, by its position, 
5624 
etc., is made to express various meanings. On-shore 
signal, a signal formerly displayed at lake ports by the 
United States Signal-service as a warning to small vessels 
when the wind was expected to blow in an on-shore di- 
rection with a velocity of from 20 to 35 miles per hour. 
Signal Corps, a corps of the United States army charged 
with the general signal-service of the army, with the erec- 
tion, equipment, and management of field-telegraphs used 
with military forces in the field, with constructing and 
operating military telegraph-lines, and all other duties 
usually pertaining tu military signaling. By act of Octo- 
ber 1st, 1890, the Signal Corps consists of the chief signal 
officer, one major, four captains (mounted), four first lieu- 
tenants (mounted), and fifty sergeants. Signal quarter- 
master. See quartermaster. Signal-service Bureau, 
from 1871 to the end of 18sX>, a bureau of the United States 
War Department, presided over by the chief signal officer, 
having charge of military signaling and military telegraph- 
lines, and of the collection and comparison of meteoro- 
logical observations, and the publication of predictions of 
the weather based upon them. By act of October 1st, 1M90, 
a Weather Bureau was created in the Department of Agri- 
culture, and the meteorological duties devolving upon the 
Signal-service Bureau were transferred thereto. Storm 
signal, a red flag with black center, hoisted by the United 
States Weather Bureau at sea-coast and lake stations, 
warning seamen to expect violent and dangerous gales. 
To repeat signals (naut.). See repeal. Weather sig- 
nal, a signal designed to give information of the character 
of the approaching weather ; especially, one announcing 
the forecasts made by a weather-service, 
signal (sig'nal), r.; pret. and pp. signali-d or sig- 
nalled, ppr. signaling or signalling. [< OF. si- 
gnaler, segnaler, F. signaler = Pr. signalar = Sp. 
seHalar = Pg. sinalar= It. segnalare; from the 
noun.] I. trans. 1. To mark with a sign. 
Layard. (Imp. Diet.) 2. To communicate or 
make known by a signal or by signals: as, to 
signal orders; a vessel signals its arrival. 3. 
To make signals to : as, the vessel signaled the 
forts. 
II. intrans. 1. To be a sign or omen. Imp. 
Diet. 2. -To give a signal or signals; make 
communication by signals. 
We may conveniently divide circuits, so far as their sig- 
nalling peculiarities are concerned, into five classes. 
London I'hilos. ilug., 5th ser., XXV. 209. 
They are signaling night and day from one of the half- 
ruined towera of the capitol, by hag and fire. 
J. K. llosmer, Color-Guard, p. 76. 
signal-book (sig/nal-buk), n. A book contain- 
ing a system ol signals, with explanations and 
directions for their use. 
A complete naval signal book comprehends therefore a 
system of evolutionary tactics. Amer. Cyc., XV. 36. 
signal-box (sig'nal-bpks), . 1. A small house 
or tower in which railway-signals are worked. 
2. The alarm-box of a police or fire-alarm 
system, or the like, usually affording a connec- 
tion with a pneumatic or electric system. 
signal-chest (sig'nal-chest), n. A chest or 
locker on shipboard for holding signal-flags. 
signal-code (sig'nal-kod), n. A code or system 
of arbitrary signals. See code of signals, under 
Signal, 
signaler, signaller (sig'nal-er), . One who 
or that which makes signals ; a person or an 
instrument employed in signaling. Elect. Rev. 
(Bug.), XXVI. 83. 
signaletic (sig-na-let'ik), a. [< F. signaletique, 
< signaler, signal : see signal, v.] Of or per- 
taining to the algebraic signs plus and minus. 
They are signaletic functions, indicating in what man- 
ner . . . the roots of the one equation are intercalated 
among those of the other. Cayley, in Nature, XXXIX, 218. 
Signaletic series, a succession of terms considered solely 
with reference to their signs as plus or minus. 
signal-fire (sig'nal-fir), w. A fire intended for 
a signal; a beacon-fire. Signal-fires were formerly 
often built on high points for the gathering of members 
of a clan, tribe, or other organization for hostile or pred- 
atory operations. They were also lighted on sea-coasts 
for the guidance of vessels, and in semi barbarous times 
or places often as a lure for their destruction for the sake 
of plunder. The earliest lighthouses were supplied with 
signal-fires instead of lamps. Such fires, or rather the 
dense columns of smoke made to arise from them, are still 
largely in use for signaling purposes among the North 
American Indians. 
signal-flag (sig'nal-flag), . A flag used in or 
adapted for signaling; especially, one of a set 
of nags of different colors, shapes, and mark- 
ings, which, singly or in various combinations, 
have different significations, intelligible either 
in one language or service, or in all languages. 
See code of signals, under signal. 
Signal-gun (sig'nal-gun), (. A gun fired as a 
signal, or one especially used for firing signals. 
Well, one day bang went the signal gun for sailing, and 
blew my day dreams to the clouds. 
D. Jerrold, Retiring from Business, III. 2. 
Hark peals the thunder of the signal-gun ! 
It told 'twas sunset. Byron, Corsair, L 14. 
signal-halyard (sig'nal-hal'yiird), . See hal- 
yard. 
signalise, t. See signalize. 
signal-service 
signalityt (sig-nal'i-ti), n. [< signal + -ity.~\ 
The state of being signal; prominence; emi- 
nence; importance. 
Of the ways whereby they enquired and determined its 
sigitality, the first was natural, arising from physical 
causes. Sir T. Lrowne. (Lutltam.) 
signalize (sig'nal-Iz), r. ; pret. and pp. signal- 
ized, ppr. ttignalizing. [< signal + -ize.] I. 
trans. 1. To make signal; render conspicu- 
ously noteworthy; distinguish in a special or 
exceptional manner: used of a person, reflex- 
ively, or of his actions, directly or indirectly: 
as, to signalize one's self by great deeds or 
great crimes; to signalize one's administration 
by reformatory zeal. 
A man's memory finds sufneient ( employment on such 
as have really signalized themselves by their great actions. 
Addixvn, Ancient Medals, i. 
He signalized himself by a very remarkable superiority 
of genius. Goldtnnith, Essay, Taste. 
It Is this passion which drives men to all the ways we 
see in use of signalizing themselves. Eurke. 
2. To indicate or point out distinctly ; make 
special note or mention of ; specialize. [Re- 
cent.] 
The MS. of the Roman de la Rose, the presence of which 
In a private library in Boston was signalized by Prof. Al- 
phonse van DaelL Amer. Jmtr. I'hUol., X. 118. 
Children cannot be suitably impressed with such "tre- 
mendous ideas as evolution," and therefore it is useless to 
signalize these to them. Pop. Sci. Mo., XXVIII. 342. 
3. To signal; make signals to; indicate by a 
signal. [Now rare.] Imp. Diet. 
II. intrans. To make signals; hold commu- 
nication by signals. [Now rare.] 
Twelve oval metal disks, supposed by Wagner to have 
been attached occasionally to the commander's staff in 
signalizing. O'Curry, Anc. Irish, 11. xxxv. 
I signalized to the fleet. Farragul, Life, p. 322. 
Also spelled signalise. 
signal-lamp (sig'nal-lamp), n. A lamp by 
which signals may be made, usually fitted with 
a lantern and either moved in certain ways, or 
combined with other lamps to form certain 
groups, or arranged with glasses or slides of 
different colors. White usually indicates safety, red 
danger, and green caution ; but on the continent of Europe 
green is a safety-signal, and also on some American rail- 
ways. 
signal-lantern (sig'nal-lan"tern), 11. A lantern 
with plain or colored glass, used in signaling. 
Some have working slides which give flashes of light, the 
durations of which and the intervals of time between 
them correspond to determined meanings. Slides of col- 
ored glass are also used to give combinations. See cut 
under lantern. 
signaller, . See signaler. 
signal-light (sig'nal-lit), . A light, shown 
especially at night, either alone or with others, 
to make signals. Compare signal-lamp. 
signally (sig'nal-i), adv. In a signal manner; 
conspicuously; eminently; memorably: as, 
their plot failed signally. 
Signalman (sig'ual-man), . ; pi. signalmen 
(-men). One whose duty it is to convey intel- 
ligence, notice, warning, or the like by means 
of signals; a signaler; in nautical or military 
service, one who makes signals and reads or 
interprets the signals received; an expert in 
signals. 
signalment (sig'nal-ment), n. [< F. signale- 
ment ; as signal + -WMK.] 1. A making known 
by signs or indications; specifically, a descrip- 
tion by external inarks or characteristics for 
identification. [A Gallicism.] 
The foiled police 
Renounced me. "Could they find 
No other sifrnalment but girl and c 
No data shown but noticeable eyes, 
And hair in masses, low upon the brow?" 
Sirs. Browning, Aurora Leigh, vi 
That bit of Diirer . . . contains a true signalement of 
every nut-tree and apple-tree and higher bit of hedge all 
round that village. lluskin, Elements of Drawing, i. 
2. The act of signaling. Imp. Diet. 
signal-officer (sig'nal-of "i-ser), n. An officer in 
the signal-service of an army ; an officer of the 
signal corps Chief signal officer, an officer of the 
United States army charged with the superintendence of 
the Signal Corps. See Signal Corps, under signal. 
signal-order (sig'nal-6r"der), n. An order re- 
lating to the display of signals. 
signal-post (sig'nal-post), n. A post or pole 
upon which movable arms, flags, lights, or the 
like are arranged, which may be displayed for 
the purpose of making signals. 
signal-rocket (sig'nal-rok'et), n. A rocket 
used as a signal. 
Signal-service (sig'nal-ser"vis), i. 1. The 
business of making or transmitting signals; 
the occupation of signaling, especially in the 
"Could they find a girl and child? 
child? 
