- Today's Word
Semaphore
SEM-uh-for
Definition
- (Noun) A system of signaling using flags, lights, or hand movements.
- (Verb) To communicate using such signals.
Example
The sailors used semaphore to convey messages between ships without radios.
Fun Fact
Semaphore was widely used in maritime communication and railway signaling before modern technology. The famous Semaphore Flag Signaling System is still taught in some military and scouting organizations today—so next time your phone dies, maybe it’s time to brush up on your flag-waving skills!
(adjective) Fluent and confident in speech, but shallow, insincere, or lacking thought.
His glib explanation sounded convincing, but it crumbled under basic questioning.
Mid 17th century: probably from Low German glibberig, meaning “slippery.”