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

This was done in all mines until the Davy lamp was universally adopted.

From The Underground City, or, the Child of the Cavern by Verne, Jules

For these reasons the metallic gauze of the Davy lamp is not so efficient a protector of the flame as it is in cases of coal-gas, methane, &c.

From Acetylene, the Principles of Its Generation and Use A Practical Handbook on the Production, Purification, and Subsequent Treatment of Acetylene for the Development of Light, Heat, and Power by Leeds, F. H. (Frank Henley)

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

He thought perhaps the butty would let him go down with his Davy lamp.

From Taking Tales Instructive and Entertaining Reading by Kingston, William Henry Giles