n [ sing ]
a bell kept at Lloyd’s of London which is rung when important announcements are made. In former times it was rung to announce good or bad news for the company, such as the loss of a ship insured there, but today it is often rung to mark news of national importance, such as the death of a public figure. The bell was rescued from the Lutine , a ship insured at Lloyd’s which sank in 1799 carrying a large amount of gold.