English

Alternative forms

• blow horn, blow-horn

A blowhorn

Noun

blowhorn ‎(plural blowhorns)

1. A device, often funnel-shaped and sometimes hand-held, which is used to emit loud sounds or amplified human speech.
   • 1987 Feb. 11, Jeff Kunerth, "Deaf ear may be best deterrent," Orlando Sentinal, p. E1:

     "Pick up your toys" takes a parental blowhorn to permeate the brain of a young child.

   • 1998 April 19, "Back When Beach Was Best: Resident, 81, shares memories with commission," Miami Herald:

     He remembers the sad, droning sound of a blowhorn from a dredge barge, a plea for help as it was swept out to sea.

   • 2003 Jan. 15, Heidi Shott, "Episcopalians: Mainers stand firm against racism in gatherings and vigils across the state," Worldwide Faith News (USA) (retrieved 2 Aug. 2011):

     [F]rom atop enormous snow banks they sang civil rights-era songs and waited for the speakers from inside to come outside to deliver their speeches via blowhorn.

   • 2009 Feb. 24, Matthew Johnston, "Bible bid to stop porn addiction at Sexpo," Herald Sun (Australia) (retrieved 25 Feb. 2009):

     "We could stand outside with a blowhorn and say you are all sinners but the reality is that doesn't work," Mr Davies said.

   • 2010 June 1, David Pickthall, "Are you ready to make some noise?," North-West Evening Mail (UK) (retrieved 2 Aug. 2011):

     I’m talking, of course, about the vuvuzela. Essentially, a metre-long blowhorn, which you may struggle to get past a steward at an English football ground.

Synonyms

• bullhorn, loudhailer, megaphone