Davy lamp

American  

noun

1. a safety lamp formerly used by miners.

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Davy lamp British  

noun

1. See safety lamp

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Etymology

Origin of Davy lamp

First recorded in 1810–20; named after Sir H. Davy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Davy lamp

John DaviesKirkby in Cleveland, North Yorkshire • The container of the Olympic flame flown into the UK is actually a Davy lamp, invented by Sir Humphry Davy 200 years ago to prevent explosions in coalmines.

From The Guardian ● May 23, 2012

Men were much more careless in the handling of naked lights than they are now, and the beneficent gift of the Davy lamp was looked on with mistrust.

From Recollections With Photogravure Portrait of the Author and a number of Original Letters, of which one by George Meredith and another by Robert Louis Stevenson are reproduced in facsimile by Murray, David Christie

Recently, M. Eugene Godard has obviated a portion of this difficulty by fitting a chimney, like that which is found of such incalculable service in the case of the Davy lamp.

From Wonderful Balloon Ascents by Marion, F. (Fulgence)

They had no Davy lamp with which to read their aneroid, and could only tell from the upward flight of fragments of paper that they were descending.

From The Dominion of the Air; the story of aerial navigation by Bacon, John Mackenzie

Have you ever heard of the Humphrey Davy lamp?

From The Wonder Island Boys: Treasures of the Island by Finlay, Roger Thompson