[sem.a.phore] n [Gk sema sign, signal + ISV -phore] (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
[2]semaphore vb -phored ; -phor.ing vt (1893): to convey (information) by or as if by semaphore ~ vi: to send signals by or as if by semaphore