n. The sounding of a bugle or drum early in the morning to awaken soldiers.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. The beat of drum, or bugle blast, about break of day, to give notice that it is time for the soldiers to rise, and for the sentinels to forbear challenging.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. Milit. and naval, the beat of a drum, bugle-sound, or other signal given about break of day, to give notice that it is time for the soldiers or sailors to rise and for the sentinels to forbear challenging.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. a signal to get up in the morning; in the military it is a bugle call at sunrise
n. (military) signal to wake up
Word Usage
"The guns and ammunition had long ago passed into the hands of the Japs, and when at last the reveille from a Japanese bugle woke up the garrison completely, there was nothing to be done but to grind their teeth with rage and submit to the inevitable."