jack-o'-lantern

American  

[jak-uh-lan-tern] / ˈdʒæk əˌlæn tərn /

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.

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jack-o'-lantern British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of jack-o'-lantern

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

His trophy had a jack-o’-lantern on it because it was Halloween.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2023

These events are essentially like run-of-the-mill jack-o’-lantern carving festivities — contestants get pumpkins, carving tools and an hour to finish their masterpieces — except they happen entirely underwater.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 26, 2022

Leaving the stem intact helps a jack-o’-lantern last.

From New York Times • Oct. 22, 2022

Rain falling on your jack-o’-lantern will invite every mold in the neighborhood to take up residency in or on it.

From Scientific American • Oct. 19, 2022

Now he had such a huge smile it almost seemed too big for his face, like the smile on a jack-o'-lantern.

From "Holes" by Louis Sachar

Related Words

• fruit
• squash