jack-o'-lantern

[ jak-uh-lan-tern ]

noun

1. a hollowed pumpkin with openings cut to represent human eyes, nose, and mouth and in which a candle or other light may be placed, traditionally made for display at Halloween.
2. a commercially made lantern resembling this.
3. any phenomenon of light, as a corona discharge or an ignis fatuus.
4. a poisonous luminescent orange fungus, Omphalotus olearius, often found in clusters at the base of hardwood tree stumps.

jack-o'-lantern

noun

1. a lantern made from a hollowed pumpkin, which has holes cut in it to represent a human face
2. a will-o'-the-wisp or similar phenomenon

Word History and Origins

Origin of jack-o'-lantern¹

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

Hurrah for the Jack-o-lantern witch, some one said, and the crowd shouted their happiness and relief.

From Project Gutenberg

In her window there still stood the grinning Jack-o-lantern, and at sight of it bursts of laughter took away all thought of tears.

From Project Gutenberg

It had the appearance of a grinning monster, the boy laughed at his memory of the Jack-o-Lantern.

From Project Gutenberg

A lighted jack-o-lantern came from between the folds of a curtain which hung from the ceiling.

From Project Gutenberg

At each corner of the table a jack-o-lantern and towards the center, baskets made of pumpkins full of red, green and yellow fruit.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fruit
• squash