Definition of beacon

The word "beacon" has its roots in Old English and Middle English. In Old English, the word "beć" referred to a signal fire or a guiding light, often used to alert people of important events or to guide travelers. This sense of guiding or signaling was carried over into Middle English, where the word "beacon" referred to a light or a signal on a hill or a tower, used to warn of dangers or to guide mariners. The word "beacon" comes from the Proto-Germanic word "*bakiz", which was derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*bheg-", meaning "to shine" or "to burn". Today, a beacon is any source of light or signal that guides or warns, whether it's a physical object such as a lighthouse or a metaphorical one such as a guiding influence.