riding light
- noun
- Specialized
:
luz de ancla
- The crew made sure the riding light was visible throughout the night while the ship was anchored.
Examples
-
As darkness fell, the captain ordered the riding light to be switched on.
-
All vessels must show their riding lights at night.
-
A vessel at anchor is required to display a riding light for safety.
-
The ship displayed a riding light to signal its presence.
-
A vessel at anchor is required to display a riding light for safety.
-
As darkness fell, the captain ordered the riding light to be switched on.
-
The crew made sure the riding light was visible throughout the night while the ship was anchored.
Synonyms
1
3.6
A light on a ship or plane that shows its position and direction at night
A lamp hung on a ship while it is at anchor to show its position at night
A white light on a boat that shows it is stopped at anchor
How Bright
15
3.9
66
4.3
- Specialized
274
1.0
113
1.0
451
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase uses a specialized nautical sense of "riding" meaning "at anchor," which is not a common meaning a B1 learner would derive from the general verb "ride," so the specific idea of a ship's anchor/position light is unlikely to be inferred. However, there is a loose compositional link (a light associated with the vessel's state of "riding"), so the expression is partially predictable but requires domain knowledge.
Etymology
Riding light The term riding light may come from old ships that ride at anchor; a light fixed in the rigging seemed to ride with the ship at night. That's why riding light means 'a light that shows a ship's position' when it is anchored.