beeper
UK: ˈbiːpə | US: ˈbiːpər
n. a small electronic device that emits a beeping sound to alert the user, especially to notify them of a message or call (common in the late 20th century).
The word "beeper" derives from the onomatopoeic term "beep," mimicking the sound produced by early electronic alert devices. The suffix "-er" transforms the sound into a noun referring to the device itself. Originally tied to pagers (one-way communication tools), the term reflects the technological culture of the 1980s–1990s, where such devices were ubiquitous for instant notifications.
Doctors in the 1990s relied on beepers for emergency calls.
The beeper buzzed loudly during the meeting.
She clipped the beeper to her belt for easy access.
Before smartphones, beepers were the primary way to receive urgent messages.
The museum displayed vintage beepers as relics of early mobile communication.