larum

My conjectures were interrupted by a loud larum at the house-door, which announced the return of my young host.

This morning about seven oclock we had a larum that the Regulars were gone to Concord.

The ‘larum of his bell was ne’er sae shrill As was her tongue, aye clacking like a mill.

The clock which stood upon the mantel had sounded twice the customary larum, but had not been heard by us.

Of these we read in Shakespeare's works—of the "'larum bell and of sweet bells jangled out of tune."