bale (4)

[A.S. bæl = (1) a funeral pile, (2) a burning.] [BELTANE.) A fire kindled upon an eminence, on the border or coast of a country or elsewhere, to give warning of the approach of danger. For, when they see the blazing bale , Elliots and Armstrongs never fail." Scott: Lay of the Last Minstrel, iii. 27. bale-fire, s. A fire of the kind now described. "Sweet Teviot! on thy silver tide The glaring bale - fires blaze no more." Scott: Lay of the Last Minstrel, iv. 1. bale-hills, s. pl . Hillocks on which balefires were formerly kindled. (S. in Boucher .)