I. ˈse-mə-ˌfȯr noun
Etymology: Greek sēma 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
]
II. verb
( -phored ; -phor·ing )
Date: 1893
transitive verb
: to convey (information) by or as if by semaphore
intransitive verb
: to send signals by or as if by semaphore