“Tocsin” is an archaic word for an alarm or signal. It was originally a bell sounded to alert an entire city, but over time it became more of a metaphorical warning signal. For example: “We saw the declining population as a tocsin.” The word entered English in the 16th century through Old French, but the root “tocasenh” is from Provençal, a related Romance language. In Provençal, “tocar” is “to touch” and “senh” is “signal bell.”