electric lightn.
/ᵻˌlɛktrɪk ˈlʌɪt/, U.S. /əˌlɛktrɪk ˈlaɪt/, /iˌlɛktrɪk ˈlaɪt/ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > [noun] > electric light
electric light1753
electric light1843
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electric light > [noun]
electric light1753
1753 S. Pike Philosophia Sacra v. 95 As soon as a small body touches one that is electrified, itself partakes of the electric light, and is fill'd with it.
1767 J. Priestley Hist. & Present State Electr. i. 9 A much finer appearance of electric light..was observed by Dr. Wall.
1767 H. Hamilton Philos. Ess. (ed. 2) 107 When the Air in the Glass-Globe was very much rarefied, the electric Lights appeared very white.
1769 B. Donne Epitome Nat. & Exper. Philos. xiv. 153 When a proper communication is made by Means of Conductors, a Flash of electric Light, attended with a Report..is perceived.
1786 T. Cavallo Compl. Treat. Electr. (ed. 3) I. iii. vi. 231 (heading) The artificial Bolonian Stone illuminated by the electric Light.
1863 C. M. Yonge Hist. Christian Names I. 255 The pale pure electric light that skimmers on the topmast.
2.
a. Light artificially produced by electricity for purposes of illumination. Also (rare) figurative.The light was first produced either by causing an electric arc to form between two electrodes, or by passing an electric current through a wire so as to heat it to incandescence; it was the latter method that gave rise to widespread electric lighting following the development of the light bulb in the late 19th cent. Later other sources of electric light were developed, such as fluorescent lamps and light-emitting diodes.Although Humphry Davy ( Jrnls. Royal Inst. (1802) 1 188) observed the ‘dazzling brightness’ of a spark between brass electrodes, and the ‘vivid whiteness’ when the electrodes were of charcoal, this was merely incidental to his researches into electricity.Also in 1802, V. V. Popov in Russia is reported to have observed a continuous arc discharge and to have suggested its use for illumination (see A. Anders in IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. (2003) 31 1064).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > [noun] > electric light
electric light1753
electric light1843
1843 Mechanics' Mag. 39 352 (heading) Electric light—substitute for gas.
1849 Walker in J. Wylde Circle of Sci. (c1865) I. 138/2 We..saw the electric light outshining all the other..lights.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. vi. 46 The naked eye can detect no difference in brightness between the electric light and the lime light.
1870 F. M. Müller Sci. Relig. (1873) 3 The electric light of Comparative Philology.
1871 J. Tyndall Fragm. Sci. (ed. 6) II. xvi. 430 The electric light was afterwards established at Cape Grisnez.
1878 Boston Transcript 16 Nov. 4 The electric-light patents he [sc. Edison] has applied for are already antiquated.
1893 Outing 22 132/2 The famous Spokane Falls..furnish abundant power for..electric-light plants.
2000 M. Ondaatje Anil's Ghost 202 When batteries died it was sometimes a week before one of them walked into the village, that sea of electric light!
b. A device for producing such light, esp. a light bulb in a permanent position or fixture.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > artificial light defined by light-source > electric light > [noun]
electric light1879
electric1884
1879 Rep. Select Comm. on Lighting by Electr. 190 in Parl. Papers (H.C. 224) XI. 375 Another objection is, that electric lights on ships may be taken for lighthouses.
1880 J. W. Urquhart Electr. Light 278 Six electric lights of 480-candle power each.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 14 Dec. 4/2 This prodigy will phosphoresce in the dark for some minutes after being exposed to a small pocket electric light.
1977 M. Helprin Refiner's Fire x. xv. 332 Far away, a medieval minareted city sparkled with tiny electric lights.
2005 A. Gibbons Blood Pressure 39 People still live on the top floor. At night the electric lights illuminate the security boards.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1753