n.
Pronunciation: ' se-m ə - ˌ fo ̇ r
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek s ē ma sign, signal + International Scientific Vocabulary -phore
Date: 1816
1 : an apparatus for visual signaling (as by the position of one or more movable arms)
2 : a system of visual signaling by two flags held one in each hand
semaphore 2: alphabet; 3 positions following Z: error, end of word, numerals follow; numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 same as A through J