big voice

n. a public address and siren system used for warnings (of incoming artillery fire, missiles, tornados, etc.) over a large (outdoor) area. Subjects: English, Military

Editorial Note: This is often used as a proper noun and without an article: Big Voice. A more common synonym is giant voice.

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Citations: 2000 Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Ga.) (Feb. 20) “Metro tornado defenses spotty”: Cobb also will install two so-called “big voice” sirens, a combination public address and siren system with a 1.5-mile range. 2002 Department of Defense (U.S.) (Dec. 18) “UFC 4-021-01: Design and O&M: Mass Notification Systems”: Giant Voice System. This system is also known as Big Voice. The Giant Voice system is typically installed as a base-wide system to provide a siren signal and pre-recorded and live voice messages. It is most useful for providing mass notification for personnel in outdoor areas, expeditionary structures, and temporary buildings. 2003 Mark Mazzetti, Julian E. Barnes @ Camp Commando, Kuwait U.S. News & World Report (Mar. 20) “Saddam’s first shot: Rattling the Marines”: As they filed out of the bunker after the first attack, marines pulled off their gas masks and steadied their nerves with their first few breaths of fresh air. As one marine put it: “You know, I’m pretty p—ed at that Big Voice right now.” 2004 Chris Schnaubelt National Guard Association of California (Jan. 28) “NGAC 1st VP’s Update: More News from Baghdad”: When there is an attack, a siren goes off that sounds like the air raid sirens in the movies. Then, there a speaker system we call “Big Voice” that directs everyone to “take cover.” 2004 Joseph L. Galloway Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.) (Oct. 5) “A doctor’s list of memories of Iraq, good and bad”: The siren and the inevitable “big voice” yelling at us to take cover. 2005 Oneguy MREater (Iraq) (Mar. 8) “Rocketman”: I didn’t hear an explosion, so I started the engine and prepared to move out. Just then I heard Big Voice anouncing “Alarm…Red…”…I shut off the engine and sat there a bit, figuring I was as safe in an up-armored hummer as in a bunker. After a while Big Voice announced “Alarm…Black…,” so we could move around guilt free.

Posted 16 Mar 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend