Lantern

Lantern
Lantern Lan"tern (l[a^]n"t[~e]rn), n. [F. lanterne, L. lanterna, laterna, from Gr. lampth`r light, torch. See {Lamp}.] 1. Something inclosing a light, and protecting it from wind, rain, etc.; -- sometimes portable, as a closed vessel or case of horn, perforated tin, glass, oiled paper, or other material, having a lamp or candle within; sometimes fixed, as the glazed inclosure of a street light, or of a lighthouse light. [1913 Webster]

2. (Arch.) (a) An open structure of light material set upon a roof, to give light and air to the interior. (b) A cage or open chamber of rich architecture, open below into the building or tower which it crowns. (c) A smaller and secondary cupola crowning a larger one, for ornament, or to admit light; such as the lantern of the cupola of the Capitol at Washington, or that of the Florence cathedral. [1913 Webster]

3. (Mach.) A lantern pinion or trundle wheel. See {Lantern pinion} (below). [1913 Webster]

4. (Steam Engine) A kind of cage inserted in a stuffing box and surrounding a piston rod, to separate the packing into two parts and form a chamber between for the reception of steam, etc.; -- called also {lantern brass}. [1913 Webster]

5. (Founding) A perforated barrel to form a core upon. [1913 Webster]

6. (Zo["o]l.) See {Aristotle's lantern}. [1913 Webster]

Note: Fig. 1 represents a hand lantern; fig. 2, an arm lantern; fig. 3, a breast lantern; -- so named from the positions in which they are carried. [1913 Webster]

{Dark lantern}, a lantern with a single opening, which may be closed so as to conceal the light; -- called also {bull's-eye}.

{Lantern jaws}, long, thin jaws; hence, a thin visage.

{Lantern pinion}, {Lantern wheel} (Mach.), a kind of pinion or wheel having cylindrical bars or trundles, instead of teeth, inserted at their ends in two parallel disks or plates; -- so called as resembling a lantern in shape; -- called also {wallower}, or {trundle}.

{Lantern shell} (Zo["o]l.), any translucent, marine, bivalve shell of the genus {Anatina}, and allied genera.

{Magic lantern}, an optical instrument consisting of a case inclosing a light, and having suitable lenses in a lateral tube, for throwing upon a screen, in a darkened room or the like, greatly magnified pictures from slides placed in the focus of the outer lens. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Lantern — Lan tern, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Lanterned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Lanterning}.] [Cf. F. lanterner to hang at the lamp post, fr. lanterne. See {Lantern}.] To furnish with a lantern; as, to lantern a lighthouse. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lantern — • In Italian or modern architecture, a small structure on the top of a dome, for the purpose of admitting light, for promoting ventilation, and for ornament Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Lantern     Lantern …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • lantern — mid 13c., from O.Fr. lanterne lamp, lantern, light (12c.), from L. lanterna lantern, lamp, torch, altered (by influence of L. lucerna lamp ) from Gk. lampter torch, from lampein to shine (see LAMP (Cf. lamp)). Variant lanthorn (16c. 19c.) was… …   Etymology dictionary

  • lantern — [lan′tərn] n. [ME < OFr lanterne < L lanterna < Gr lamptēr < lampein, to shine: see LAMP] 1. a transparent or translucent case for holding a light and protecting it from wind and weather: it usually has a handle on its framework so… …   English World dictionary

  • lantern — [n] lamp beacon, flashlight, gas lamp, gaslight, hurricane lamp, kerosene lamp, light, searchlight, torch; concepts 620,624,628,810 …   New thesaurus

  • lantern — ► NOUN 1) a lamp with a transparent case protecting the flame or electric bulb. 2) the light chamber at the top of a lighthouse. 3) a square, curved, or polygonal structure on the top of a dome or a room, with glazed or open sides. ORIGIN Latin… …   English terms dictionary

  • Lantern — A lantern is a portable lighting device used to illuminate broad areas. Lanterns may be used for signaling, or as general light sources for camping. Dim varieties are often used for decoration.The term lantern is also used more generically to… …   Wikipedia

  • Lantern FM — Infobox Radio station name=Lantern FM airdate= 19 October 1992 frequency=96.2 MHz (North Devon) 97.3 MHz (Ilfracombe) share = 20.3% share as of = September 2007 share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly listening.php] area= North …   Wikipedia

  • lantern — n. 1 a a lamp with a transparent usu. glass case protecting a candle flame etc. b a similar electric etc. lamp. c its case. 2 a a raised structure on a dome, room, etc., glazed to admit light. b a similar structure for ventilation etc. 3 the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • lantern — n lamp, light, dark lantern, Sl. glim, bull s eye; oil lamp, lampion, hurricane lamp, tornado lamp, safety lamp, miner s lamp; jack o lantern, magic lantern, Japanese lantern, Chinese lantern; barn lantern, kerosene lamp, Coleman lantern,… …   A Note on the Style of the synonym finder

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