▪ I. megaphone, n.
(ˈmɛgəfəʊn)
[f. Gr. µέγα-ς great + ϕωνή voice, sound.]
1. An instrument for carrying sound a long distance, invented by T. A. Edison.
| 1878 Sci. Amer. XXXIX. 111/3 Now, at last, we have a megaphone, which is to the ear almost what the telescope is to the eye. 1879 Prescott Sp. Telephone 561 One of the most interesting experiments made by Mr. Edison..is that of conversing through a distance of one and a half to two miles, with..a few paper funnels. These funnels constitute the megaphone. |
2. A large speaking trumpet. Also attrib. and fig.
| 1896 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 5 Nov. 6/4 The Society for the Suppression of Needless Noise should regulate the use of the megaphone. 1898 Westm. Gaz. 25 Apr. 7/2 Captain Bob Evans..shouted through the megaphone. 1905 ‘O. Henry’ Trimmed Lamp (1907) 180 The megaphone man roars out at you to observe the house of his uncle. 1909 Daily Chron. 7 June 5/1 They felt sure that the British Press were not the paid megaphones of financial buccaneers. 1951 M. McLuhan Mech. Bride (1967) 138/1 Is there any role left for the individual in a world of collective megaphone personalities? 1960 V. Nabokov Invitation to Beheading xvi. 162 The director..examined a piece of paper, and in a megaphone voice addressed Cincinnatus. 1968 Listener 20 June 803/1 Tell Joanna she must stop being a megaphone for a negative tendency in a parent–child participating democracy. |
Hence megaˈphonic a.
| 1881 Mrs. E. Lynn Linton My Love I. xvi. 290 She had escaped even the microscopic research and the megaphonic talk of a small country place like Highwood. |
▪ II. megaphone, v.
(ˈmɛgəfəʊn)
[f. the n.]
intr. and trans. To speak or utter (as) through a megaphone. Hence ˈmegaphoned, ˈmegaphoning ppl. adjs.
| 1901 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 30 Oct. 1/7 The Cufic..megaphoned the lightship asking to be reported. 1901 R. C. Lehmann Anni Fugaces 70 The air grows blue with loud reproaches Hurled at the crews by megaphoning coaches. 1912 J. H. Moore Ethics & Educ. 97 Long ago she [sc. a dog] and her associates were accustomed to megaphone to each other in this way. 1920 Glasgow Herald 21 Apr. 8 The captain megaphoned an invitation to come on to the flag deck. 1927 H. G. Wells in Sunday Express 2 Oct. 12/7 The impressive gatherings.., the megaphoned and broadcast speeches. 1963 A. Smith Throw out Two Hands iv. 46 Aldermanic individuals had to be given captive ascents on a long rope while they megaphoned their impressions to the gaping faces down below. 1967 Punch 26 July 121/2 The compere's megaphoned voice could be heard from the concert hall. |