Davy lamp
- noun
- Archaic
:
lámpara Davy
- A Davy lamp was a key invention that reduced accidents in underground mining.
Examples
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The miners relied on the Davy lamp to safely illuminate the coal seams.
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He proudly displayed his grandfather's old Davy lamp in the study.
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The miner used a Davy lamp to light his way.
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Why is the Davy lamp so important in mining?
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The miners relied on the Davy lamp to safely illuminate the coal seams.
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A Davy lamp was a key invention that reduced accidents in underground mining.
-
He proudly displayed his grandfather's old Davy lamp in the study.
Synonyms
7
4.1
A lamp that burns oil to give light
A light that uses oil and stops flammable gas from catching fire in mines
How Safe
Surface Forms
Morphology
Davy + lamp
The noun 'lamp' makes it clear that this is a kind of lamp, but 'Davy' is an eponym/proper name that does not itself convey the specialised safety features or mining use. A B1 learner who knows the words would infer it is a lamp associated with someone named Davy, but would not predict the wire-gauze safety design or its purpose in mines, so the meaning is only partly derivable.
Etymology
Davy lamp was invented by Humphry Davy as a safety light for miners. The lamp kept its flame inside a fine metal mesh so the flame could not touch dangerous gas underground, so it came to mean 'a safety oil lamp for miners'.