circuit breaker vs wigwag

circuit breaker

noun
  • An electrical switch capable of opening and closing an electrical circuit in all operating conditions, including fault situations. 

  • Synonym of trading curb 

  • More specifically, a circuit breaker that automatically breaks overcurrent conditions; a type of overcurrent protective device. 

  • Quarantine measures intended to prevent spread of pandemics, such as the coronavirus. 

wigwag

noun
  • A device with multiple (often two), alternately flashing lights which is installed at a railway level crossing (or grade crossing), a movable bridge, etc., to warn vehicular traffic to stop. 

  • An instrument that creates a wigwagging motion for polishing. 

  • A grade crossing signal with a swinging motion used to indicate an approaching train. 

  • A device that causes one or more lights to flash in a preset pattern. 

  • A red light near the door of a sound stage that flashes to indicate that cameras are rolling inside the stage and that all people and vehicles outside should remain quiet; a red-eye. 

  • A device used to cause lamps installed on a motor vehicle, especially an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance or police car, to flash as a warning. 

  • Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states. 

  • A signal sent by waving a flag to and fro. 

  • A warning device inside the cabin of a truck that causes a mechanical arm to drop into view when the pressure in the airbrake system of the truck becomes too low for the brakes to be reliably deployed. 

verb
  • To send a signal by waving a flag to and fro. 

  • An act of wigwagging. 

  • To oscillate between two states. 

  • To move gently in one direction and then another; to wig or wiggle, to wag or waggle. 

adv
  • With a wigwagging or to-and-fro motion. 

How often have the words circuit breaker and wigwag occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )