klieg light

American  

noun

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

---

klieg light British  

/ kliːɡ /

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of klieg light

1925–30, 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

Example Sentences

If anyone should be the breakout star for their turn in Beyoncé’s klieg light, it’s Honey Dijon.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 3, 2022

Ward was long conscious of the truth that the klieg light of sports can shine on an issue.

From Washington Post • Sep. 6, 2020

It always feels like if you take a bright light, like a klieg light, and the script is like an orange gel, okay, everything's orange.

From Salon • Jan. 20, 2020

They'd done a video in our house – and everyone's equipment was there – there was a klieg light.

From The Guardian • May 16, 2013

Opening night was marred when a klieg light became lodged in Mr. Hasselhoff’s chest hair, causing a small fire.

From New York Times • Jan. 14, 2011