klieg light

noun

1. a powerful type of arc light once widely used in motion-picture studios.

klieg light

/ kliːɡ /

noun

1. an intense carbon-arc light used for illumination in producing films

Word History and Origins

Origin of klieg light¹

1925–30, Americanism; named after the brothers J. H. Kliegl (1869–1959) and Anton Kliegl (1872–1927), German-born American inventors; final l of Kliegl probably taken as initial l of light

Word History and Origins

Origin of klieg light¹

C20: named after John H. Kliegl (1869–1959) and his brother Anton (1872–1927), German-born American inventors in the field of lighting

Example Sentences

By 2012, large IRAs began to attract scrutiny, falling under the klieg lights of presidential politics.

From ProPublica

He’s a legit American folk hero under those klieg lights, sweaty and unbreakable, making his hard work pay off with such ecstatic returns, you might get tricked into thinking the American Dream is real.

From Washington Post

If, as the adage goes, the truth will set you free, just think of how freeing it will be to shine a massive klieg light on this truly reprehensible attempt to do that which you might have done willingly but for the attempt to muscle you into it.

From Ozy