Lantern
/ˈlæn.tɚn/noun
A portable light source, typically enclosed to protect the flame.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek *lampter*/*lampadē* family words for a torch or light, and its history is tangled with medieval spellings that made it feel almost like a container for captured fire.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Gk
λαμπτήρ (lamptḗr)
“a torch, lamp, or shining vessel”
Late Latin
LL
lanterna
“a lantern or lighted lamp”
Old French
OF
lanterne
“a lantern; a lighted case or enclosure”
Middle English
ME
lanterne
“a portable light with a protective case”
Modern English
Eng
lantern
“a portable light source, usually enclosed to shield the flame”