Pharos

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈfɛəɹɒs/

Definitions

1. A monumental tower established to assist maritime pilots by providing a reliable source of illumination
2. An architectural edifice constructed to function as a guiding light for navigators at sea
3. A tall structure built near coasts in ancient times to emit light and guide ships safely to shore ; a tower used as a signal or navigation aid along the coastline

Etymology: The island of Pharos, off the coast of Alexandria in Egypt, gave its name to one of the most famous structures in the ancient world. The lighthouse built there in the third century BCE, often counted among the Seven Wonders of the World, stood so prominently that its name became the common term for any such tower. The island's name is Ancient Greek, and the word has passed into English as a name for a guiding beacon on a headland or harbour. The lighthouse's fame is what carried the name across languages. In the Romance languages and in English, the original island name shifted into a general noun, so that a tower built for ships no longer needed to be on Pharos to be called a pharos. Many languages still preserve the word in this sense, a reminder of how one landmark's reputation can outlast the place it stood in.