bell

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bell1

▶noun

• 1 a hollow object, typically made of metal and in the shape of a deep inverted cup, that sounds a clear musical note when struck.

  ■ the sound or stroke of a bell, used as a signal.

• 2 (bells) a musical instrument consisting of a set of metal tubes, suspended in a frame and played by being struck.

• 3 Nautical (preceded by a numeral) the time as indicated every half-hour of a watch by the striking of the ship's bell one to eight times: at five bells in the forenoon of June 11.

• 4 something bell-shaped, in particular the end of a trumpet.

▶verb

• 1 summon or indicate with a bell.

• 2 flare outwards in the shape of a bell.

– phrases
bell the cat take the danger of a shared enterprise upon oneself. [an allusion to a fable in which the mice suggest hanging a bell around the cat's neck to have warning of its approach.]
bells and whistles attractive additional features or trimmings.
(as) clear (or sound) as a bell perfectly clear (or sound).
give someone a bell Brit. informal telephone someone.
ring a bell informal revive a distant recollection.

– origin OE belle, of Gmc origin; perh. rel. to bell2.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bell2

▶noun the cry of a stag or buck at rutting time. ▶verb (of a stag or buck) make this cry.

– origin OE bellan ‘to bellow’, of Gmc origin.