LAMPLIGHTER Meaning and
Definition
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A lamplighter is an individual responsible for the manual ignition and extinguishing of street lamps or gas lamps. Typically employed in urban areas, a lamplighter’s primary duty entails illuminating the lamps at twilight and extinguishing them at dawn, ensuring proper illumination throughout the night. The role of a lamplighter emerged during the era of gas lighting, which was prevalent in the late 18th and early 19th centuries before the widespread use of electric lighting.
Lamplighters follow a specific routine, systematically traversing the streets, lighting or extinguishing lamps along their path. Equipped with a long pole, the lamplighter would manually ignite the gas flame in each lantern, ensuring that the streets were well-lit and safe for pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages. Conversely, in the mornings, the lamplighter would visit every lamp again, utilizing the pole to carefully extinguish the flames.
Beyond their practical duties, lamplighters also held a symbolic role, representing civilization and order in bustling cities. Their presence evoked a sense of security, signifying the transition from daylight to night and vice versa. Although their significance dwindled with the advent of electric lighting, the tradition of lamplighting lives on in certain areas, serving as a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era.
Today, the term lamplighter can also be used metaphorically to refer to individuals who metaphorically light the way or inspire others through their actions or role-model behavior.
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The person employed to light the gas lamps.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for LAMPLIGHTER
- kamplighter
- pamplighter
- oamplighter
- lzmplighter
- lsmplighter
- lwmplighter
- lqmplighter
- lanplighter
- lakplighter
- lajplighter
- lamolighter
- lamllighter
- lam-lighter
- lam0lighter
- lampkighter
- lamppighter
- lampoighter
- lamplughter
- lampljghter
Etymology of LAMPLIGHTER
The word "lamplighter" is derived from the combination of two words: "lamp" and "lighter".
The term "lamp" originated from the Middle English word "lamp(e)" which can be traced back to the Latin word "lampas" meaning "torch" or "lamp". The Latin word, in turn, was borrowed from the Greek word "lampas" with the same meaning.
The term "lighter" is derived from the Middle English word "lighten" which means "to make light" or "illuminate". The word comes from the Old English word "lihtan" which has the same meaning.
When these two words are combined, "lamplighter" refers to a person who lights and tends to street lamps or public lights. This term was commonly used during the 19th and early 20th centuries when gas lamps were prevalent in cities and towns.
Similar spelling words for LAMPLIGHTER
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