bell-pull

See also: bellpull

English

Two bell-pulls next to front door

Etymology

From bell +‎ pull.

Noun

bell-pull (plural bell-pulls)

1. A rope that rings a bell.
2. A handle attached to a rope that rings a bell.
   • 1886, Thomas Hardy, chapter 7, in The Mayor of Casterbridge‎^[1]:

     While she was doing this the wood partition in the centre of the house thrilled to its centre with the tugging of a bell-pull upstairs. A bell below tinkled a note that was feebler in sound than the twanging of wires and cranks that had produced it.

   • 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 11:

     Jessamy tugged the scrolled iron bell-pull which hung down on one side of the gate. Somewhere behind, she could hear an answering jangle.

3. The tail of a fox
   • 1863, Ned Farmer, Ned Farmer's Scrap Book, 3rd edition, page 91:

     The "bell-pull," as trophy, is kept to preserve,
     And the hounds eat the fox they so richly deserve.

Usage notes

• Not to be confused with a bell rope.

Translations

rope that rings a bell

• Dutch: schellekoord (nl) f