A device that produces a loud warning sound, or in mythology, a creature whose song lures sailors to destruction.
From Greek Σειρήν (Seirēn), mythological creatures in Homer's Odyssey. The warning device meaning emerged in the 1870s due to its piercing, attention-grabbing sound.
The transition from mythological temptress to warning device is ironic - ancient sirens lured people toward danger, while modern sirens warn people away from it! Both rely on powerful, irresistible sound.
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