(historical) A bell rung to signal danger or emergency. / A bell which is rung to indicate a pre-arranged time, especially to mark a desired moment for waking up, performing a specific action etc.

(obsolete) An alarm-bell.

(figuratively, usually in the plural) A sudden awareness of danger. / Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see alarm, bell.

(US, telecommunications, informal, historical) Collectively, the family of companies associated with American Telephone & Telegraph, providing telephone service in the United States for many years through 1983.

present participle of bell the cat

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of bell the cat

simple past tense and past participle of bell the cat

(informal) A style of religious worship emphasising high ritual, including use of vestments, bells and incense, especially that of High Church Anglicanism and Catholicism.

A bell rung to alert people that it is time to get dressed, especially for dinner.

A bell rung to announce a passing, a death, or funeral; death bell, death knell.