reveille

[ rev-uh-lee; British ri-val-ee ]

noun

1. a signal, as of a drum or bugle, sounded early in the morning to awaken military personnel and to alert them for assembly.
2. a signal to arise.

reveille

/ rɪˈvælɪ /

noun

1. a signal, given by a bugle, drum, etc, to awaken soldiers or sailors in the morning
2. the hour at which this takes place

Word History and Origins

Origin of reveille¹

1635–45; < French réveillez, plural imperative of réveiller to awaken, equivalent to r ( e ) - re- + éveiller, Old French esveillier ≪ Latin ēvigilāre to watch, be vigilant ( ē- e- ¹ + vigilāre to watch; vigil )

Word History and Origins

Origin of reveille¹

C17: from French réveillez! awake! from re- + Old French esveillier to be wakeful, ultimately from Latin vigilāre to keep watch; see vigil

Example Sentences

Luggage lined up in Dallas terminals like dwarf soldiers in a nightmare reveille.

From Washington Post

If we don’t want to use the loaded “woke” to describe this deployment of socially conscious military films, let’s say that they’re collectively sounding a reveille.

From Los Angeles Times

In childhood, he was an Eagle Scout and a bugle player; at Boy Scout camp, he played reveille in the mornings and taps at night.

From Washington Post

From reveille to lights-out, the boy trumpeters sounded calls for all activities of the day.

From BBC

After reveille just after dawn, an hour is allowed for exercise and showers.

From Reuters