tocsin UK /ˈtɒksɪn/US /ˈtɑksɪn/ noun2 •An alarm or other signal sounded by a bell or bells, originally especially with reference to France.At half-past one, on the sounding of the tocsin (or bell of the public-house) about fifteen persons were collected, when the Rev. J. Bromley was called to the chair. — 1804 •A bell used to sound an alarm. formstocsins