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Glite Dictionary
deadlight

deadlight

1 9.9
A strong metal or wooden cover for a ship's small round window to keep out water during storms
  • noun
  • /ˈdɛdˌlaɪt/
  • Specialized
: tapa de escotilla
  • In rough seas, it's essential to fasten the deadlight to protect the ship.

Examples

  • He checked that every deadlight was fastened tightly during the storm.

  • It is crucial to close the deadlight whenever rough weather is approaching at sea.

  • The crew secured the deadlight before the gale hit to prevent water from entering the cabin.

  • The ship's deadlight was secured before the storm hit.

  • They installed a new deadlight on the porthole.

  • The crew secured the deadlight over the porthole to prepare for the storm.

  • Before sailing, the captain checked that each deadlight was properly fitted.

Surface Forms

deadlight singular
deadlights plural

Morphology

deadlight = dead + light (semi-transparent) = dead + light

The components 'dead' + 'light' are literal and suggest 'a light that is dead' or 'blocking light', but the specific nautical meaning 'shutter for a porthole' is specialized and not fully predictable for general learners.

Etymology

Deadlight comes from dead ('not giving light') and light ('light' or 'opening'), so the word paints the picture of making the light 'dead' or closed. That's why a deadlight is a strong shutter put over a ship's porthole to block light and keep out water in a storm.