Lamplighter: meaning, definitions and examples
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lamplighter
[ ˈlæmpˌlaɪtər ]
historical profession
A lamplighter is a person employed to light street lamps, especially gas lamps, prior to the widespread use of electricity. This profession was particularly common in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when street lighting largely relied on gas. Lamplighters would typically carry a long pole with a hook or a lighted torch to ignite the gas lamps and ensure they remained lit through the night. While the advent of electric lighting rendered the profession largely obsolete, it remains a nostalgic symbol of a bygone era in urban development.
Synonyms
lamp attendant, streetlighter
Examples of usage
- The lamplighter walked the cobblestone streets at dusk, igniting each gas lamp.
- In the past, children would often watch the lamplighter perform his nightly ritual.
- The lamplighter's job was essential before the arrival of electric streetlights.
Translations
Translations of the word "lamplighter" in other languages:
🇵🇹 acendedor de lâmpadas
🇮🇳 दीप जलाने वाला
🇩🇪 Laternenanzünder
🇮🇩 penyala lampu
🇺🇦 ліхтарник
🇵🇱 zapalacz lamp
🇯🇵 ランプライター
🇫🇷 allumeur de réverbères
🇪🇸 encendedor de faroles
🇹🇷 lamba yakıcı
🇰🇷 램프 라이터
🇸🇦 موقد المصابيح
🇨🇿 zapalovač lamp
🇸🇰 zapalovač lámp
🇨🇳 点灯人
🇸🇮 prižigalec svetilk
🇮🇸 lampavaldur
🇰🇿 шамшырақ жағушы
🇬🇪 ნათურების დამჭერი
🇦🇿 işıq yandıran
🇲🇽 encendedor de lámparas
Etymology
The term 'lamplighter' derives from two components: 'lamp' and 'lighter.' The word 'lamp' comes from the Latin 'lampas,' meaning torch or lamp. This, in turn, relates to the Greek 'lampas' which has a similar meaning connected to light and illumination. The word 'lighter' comes from the Old English 'lehtan,' meaning to set light or to ignite. As urban areas expanded during the Industrial Revolution, the need for effective street lighting led to the establishment of this role. Lamplighters were tasked with maintaining the safety of streets after dark, enhancing the quality of life in growing cities. With the introduction of electric lights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the role of the lamplighter diminished. Today, while the occupation may not exist in its historical form, the image of a lamplighter remains as a charming nod to the past.