smoking lamp

American  

noun

1. formerly, a lamp aboard ship for lighting pipes, now used figuratively to indicate when smoking is or is not allowed.

   The smoking lamp is lit.

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Etymology

Origin of smoking lamp

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

“The smoking lamp is lit” designates those times and places for smoking; but when a skipper says, “The smoking lamp is out,” it means crush out your cigarettes now.

From New York Times • Jun. 20, 2010

A signal man standing nearby whispered: "The smoking lamp is out, sir."

From Time Magazine Archive

The sofa cricked in criticism, and Tom looked at it and at the smoking lamp to which the sofa referred.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

When the hymn was over, the waiters brought coffee and Bull rapped with his gavel once again and announced, “The smoking lamp is lighted.”

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

There was the intolerable smell of a smoking lamp in the room.

From Love of Brothers by Tynan, Katharine