balefire Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a large outdoor fire that is lighted as a signal or in celebration
    bonfire.

WordNet

Bale"fire` noun
Etymology
AS. bljr the fire of the uneral pile; bl fire, flame (akin to Icel. bal, OSlav. bl, white, Gr. bright, white, Skr. bhala brightness) + fr, E. fire.
Definitions
  1. A signal fire; an alarm fire.
    Sweet Teviot! on thy silver tide The glaring balefires blaze no more. Sir W. Scott.

Webster 1913