bell buoy

noun

, Nautical.

1. a buoy having a bell that is rung by the motion of the buoy.

bell buoy

noun

1. a navigational buoy fitted with a bell, the clapper of which strikes when the waves move the buoy

Word History and Origins

Origin of bell buoy¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

The island is silent year-round except for the clanging of a bell buoy and the far-off drone of lobster boats.

From New York Times

Listen for the gentle clanging of a bell buoy on Rosario Strait.

From Seattle Times

A one tonne bell buoy installed 15 years ago to celebrate a town's maritime history has been stolen.

From BBC

At times, when his band mates were thrashing around him, his bass lines felt both rooted and freely bobbing, a bell buoy in heavy seas.

From New York Times

The previous day, the unit had to reposition a large bell buoy, nine feet in diameter, near the Statue of Liberty that had been bashed by a barge and dragged south over half a mile.

From New York Times