syren

Siren Si"ren, n. [L., fr. Gr. ???: cf. F. sir[`e]ne.] 1. (Class. Myth.) One of three sea nymphs, -- or, according to some writers, of two, -- said to frequent an island near the coast of Italy, and to sing with such sweetness that they lured mariners to destruction. [1913 Webster]

Next where the sirens dwell you plow the seas; Their song is death, and makes destruction please. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

2. An enticing, dangerous woman. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. Something which is insidious or deceptive. [1913 Webster]

Consumption is a siren. --W. Irving. [1913 Webster]

4. A mermaid. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. (Zo["o]l.) Any long, slender amphibian of the genus {Siren} or family {Sirenid[ae]}, destitute of hind legs and pelvis, and having permanent external gills as well as lungs. They inhabit the swamps, lagoons, and ditches of the Southern United States. The more common species ({Siren lacertina}) is dull lead-gray in color, and becames two feet long. [1913 Webster]

6. [F. sir[`e]ne, properly, a siren in sense 1.] (Acoustics) An instrument for producing musical tones and for ascertaining the number of sound waves or vibrations per second which produce a note of a given pitch. The sounds are produced by a perforated rotating disk or disks. A form with two disks operated by steam or highly compressed air is used sounding an alarm to vessels in fog. [Written also {sirene}, and {syren}.] [1913 Webster]