A loud horn or whistle used to warn ships in foggy conditions, or any loud, deep sound like that.
Compound of 'fog' and 'horn.' These mechanical warning devices were invented in the 1800s to help ships navigate safely when fog made visibility impossible, creating some of the loudest sounds ever produced.
Foghorns are so incredibly loud that some produce sounds over 130 decibels—louder than a jet engine—yet they had to be that loud to penetrate thick fog and warn approaching ships! You can still hear some old foghorns on the coasts today.
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