safety lamp

American  

noun

1. a miner's lamp in which the flame is protected by wire gauze to prevent the immediate ignition of explosive gases.

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safety lamp British  

noun

1. Also called: Davy lamp.  an oil-burning miner's lamp in which the flame is surrounded by a metal gauze to prevent it from igniting combustible gas

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Etymology

Origin of safety lamp

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

The same gallery will host works by Ryan Gander, who will create sculptures inspired by northern inventions, from Joseph Swan's incandescent light bulb to George Stephenson's Geordie safety lamp.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2018

Again it was a result of an opened safety lamp igniting the gas.

From BBC • Nov. 8, 2017

For it was in Newcastle in 1815 that the miners' safety lamp was first demonstrated, an entirely practical device made not for stylish appearance, but to stop miners from getting blown up.

From The Guardian • Jun. 15, 2012

Each person had a safety lamp in his hand.

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

But still more dangerous is the adventurous miner who, for some reason, opens his safety lamp.

From Marvels of Scientific Invention An Interesting Account in Non-technical Language of the Invention of Guns, Torpedoes, Submarine Mines, Up-to-date Smelting, Freezing, Colour Photography, and many other recent Discoveries of Science by Corbin, Thomas W.