lamp or lantern?

Merriam Webster

lan=B7tern

noun

1 : a usually portable protective case for a light with transparent openings -- compare CHINESE LANTERN 2 a obsolete : LIGHTHOUSE b : the chamber in a lighthouse containing the light c : a structure with glazed or open sides above an opening in a roof for light or ventilation d : a small tower or cupola or one stage of a cupola=20 3 : PROJECTOR2b

lamp is the bulb...... lantern holds the lamp...

some folks call flashlights "torches"

A lamp is usually fixed, stays in one place, solid construction. The lamp on your study desk, or in your lounge room (fixed on a pole) is unlikely to be called a lantern.

A lantern tends more portable, often made of flimsier materials such as paper. Is often found in the phrase "Chinese lantern".

--
Stephen
Lennox Head, Australia

Lamp --> stationary, lantern --> mobile.

That's my understanding.

From the OED:

lamp . noun 1 an electric, oil, or gas device for giving light. ORIGIN Greek lampas 'torch'.

lantern . noun 1 a lamp with a transparent case protecting the flame or electric bulb. ORIGIN Latin lanterna, from Greek lampter 'lamp'.

As you can see from the definitions, a "lantern" is a specific type of "lamp". In common American usage, consideration of portability would influence your choice. One would, for example, speak of using a "lantern" rather than a "lamp" to go cave-exploring.

A lantern is a lantern is a lantern.

A lamp may be a lantern but may be gualified -- we speak of a headlamp, not a headlantern.

--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

In our last episode, , the lovely and talented dances_with snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com broadcast on alt.usage.english:

Generally lamps are used indoors, and although some lamps could be moved, they are not intended to be carried while they are illuminated. Lanterns are intended to be portable, and are often used outdoors. You have crossposted to s.e.b, so perhaps I should add the "lamp" is commonly used as the legend in schematics for any device that gives off light whether intended as a source of illumination for other purposes, as an indicator, or for some other purpose. Also the parts of device which actually illuminate (i.e. the bulbs) are often called "lamps."

--
Lars Eighner         usenet@larseighner.com         http://www.larseighner.com/
    We are all failures--at least, all the best of us are.  --J. M. Barrie

In common usage, a kerosene lamp is a mostly glass piece of table or wall furniture, while a kerosene lantern is a mostly steel utilitarian tool meant to be taken wherever light is needed. A lamp normally does not have a handle, while a lantern normally has a bail handle that allows it to be carried or hung.

--
http://home.teleport.com/~larryc

So Diogenes had a very long extension cord?

So old Henry W. should have written:

Listen my children and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year.

He said to his friend, "If the British march By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a large and flimsy paper globe aloft in the belfry arch Of the North Church tower as a signal light,--

One if by land, and two if by sea; Enlist the help of a heathen Chinee. But if you need warned again in an hour or so, Look in the window of Sung Fat's to-go.

--


Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL

In a practical sense a lamp is used to light an area like a room and a lantern is for lighting your way or lighting an outdoor area.. The british call a flashlight a lantern{or did at least}.

a lantern has weatherproofing.

Bye. Jasen

Although a table lamp is more mobile than an architectural lantern.

Nick

In modern usage, a lantern has a handle; a torch or flashlight does not.

--
James Follett. Novelist. (G1LXP) http://www.jamesfollett.dswilliams.co.uk
The Silent Vulcan trilogy, starting with \'The Temple of the Winds\', on BBC7
Sundays 1840.

actually carbide lamps are often used. these have an unprotected acetylene flame.

carbide is more compact than the equivalent in alkaline cells.

Bye. Jasen

But cars have headlamps, which are used for lighting ones way. They are not headlanterns.

--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

So does a hurricane lamp.

--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

In message , Jasen Betts writes

In modern usage a lantern has a carrying handle, a torch or flashlight does not.

--
James Follett. Novelist. (G1LXP) http://www.jamesfollett.dswilliams.co.uk
The Silent Vulcan trilogy, starting with \'The Temple of the Winds\', on BBC7
Sundays 1840.

That's because the headlamps are stationary relative to the car. The car moves. (What? You've got a better explanation?) And anyway, the standard term in the US is "headlights."

--
Bob Lieblich
And let\'s not hear about those headlights that turn when the steering
wheel turns

ROTFLMAO!!

--
"Electricity is of two kinds, positive and negative. The difference
is, I presume, that one comes a little more expensive, but is more
durable; the other is a cheaper thing, but the moths get into it."
                                             (Stephen Leacock)