The bells first mentioned in Scripture are the small golden bells attached to the hem of the high priest's ephod (Exodus 28:33, 34, 35). The "bells of the horses" mentioned by Zechariah (14:20) were attached to the bridles or belts round the necks of horses trained for war, so as to accustom them to noise and tumult.

Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (n.) A hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a ringing sound on being struck.

2. (n.) A hollow perforated sphere of metal containing a loose ball which causes it to sound when moved.

3. (n.) Anything in the form of a bell, as the cup or corol of a flower.

4. (n.) That part of the capital of a column included between the abacus and neck molding; also used for the naked core of nearly cylindrical shape, assumed to exist within the leafage of a capital.

5. (n.) The strikes of the bell which mark the time; or the time so designated.

6. (v. t.) To put a bell upon; as, to bell the cat.

7. (v. t.) To make bell-mouthed; as, to bell a tube.

8. (v. i.) To develop bells or corollas; to take the form of a bell; to blossom; as, hops bell.

9. (v. t.) To utter by bellowing.

10. (v. i.) To call or bellow, as the deer in rutting time; to make a bellowing sound; to roar.