Lantern definition
An example of a lantern is a hand held light powered by propane, used while camping.
The lantern of the cupola of the Capitol at Washington, or that of the Florence cathedral.
To lantern a lighthouse.
Other Word Forms
Noun
Origin of lantern
- Middle English from Old French lanterne from Latin lanterna from Greek lamptēr from lampein to shine
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English (13th century), via Old French lanterne from Latin lanterna (“lantern"), itself a corruption of Ancient Greek λαμπτήρ (lamptÄ“r, “torch") (see lamp, λάμπω) 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 lamp-post.
From Wiktionary