狼煙のろし

noun

signal fire; beacon; smoke signal

Historical signal fire or smoke used for communication, especially in warfare. Can also refer to a skyrocket used as a signal.

• 戦せん国ごく時じ代だい、城しろから城しろへ狼煙のろしを上あげて連れん絡らくした。

  In the Warring States period, they communicated from castle to castle by raising signal fires.

• 山さん頂ちょうで狼煙のろしを焚たいて合あい図ずを送おくった。

  They lit a beacon on the mountaintop to send a signal.

noun

starting signal; starting shot

Only with reading のろし

Figurative use of のろし to mean a signal that starts something, like a campaign or event. Often used in phrases like 狼煙を上げる (to fire the starting signal).

• 彼かれの演えん説ぜつが選せん挙きょ戦せんの狼煙のろしとなった。

  His speech became the starting signal for the election campaign.

• 新しん製せい品ひんの発はっ表ぴょうが業ぎょう界かいに狼煙のろしを上あげた。

  The announcement of the new product fired the starting shot in the industry.