lantern

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An open structure of light material set upon a roof, to give light and air to the interior.

   On such an afternoon, if ever, the Lord High Chancellor ought to be sitting here—as here he is—with a foggy glory round his head, softly fenced in with crimson cloth and curtains, addressed by a large advocate with great whiskers, a little voice, and an interminable brief, and outwardly directing his contemplation to the lantern in the roof, where he can see nothing but fog.

2. 2
   noun

   A smaller and secondary cupola crowning a larger one, for ornament, or to admit light.

   The lantern of the cupola of the Capitol at Washington, or that of the Florence cathedral.

3. 3
   verb

   To furnish with a lantern.

   To lantern a lighthouse.

4. 4
   adj

   Of a facial feature, large and squarish in shape as an old-fashioned lantern.

   A youngish looking man came up to him, and aggressive-looking type with a hook mouth, a lantern nose, and small beady little cheekbones.

From Middle English lanterne (13th century), via Old French lanterne from Latin lanterna (“lantern”), itself a corruption of Ancient Greek λαμπτήρ (lamptḗr, “torch”) (see lamp, λάμπω (lámpō)) by influence of Latin lucerna (“lamp”). The spelling lanthorn was current during the 16th to 19th centuries and originates with a folk etymology associating the word with the use of horn as translucent cover. For the verb, compare French lanterner to hang at the lamppost. Displaced native Old English lēohtfæt (literally “light-container”).

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