Lamp n.
 1. A light-producing vessel, device, instrument or apparatus; formerly referring especially to a vessel with a wick used for the combustion of oil or other inflammable liquid, for the purpose of producing artificial light; also, a similar device using a gas as the combustible fuel; now referring mainly to an electric lamp.  See sense 3.
 2. Figuratively, anything which enlightens intellectually or morally; anything regarded metaphorically a performing the uses of a lamp.
    Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.   --Ps. cxix. 105.
    Ages elapsed ere Homer's lamp appeared.   --Cowper.
 3. Elec. A device or mechanism for producing light by electricity, usually having a glass bulb or tube containing the light-emitting element.  Most lamps belong to one of two categories, the Incandescent lamp (See under Incandescent) or the fluorescent lamp.  However, see also arc lamp, below.
 Aeolipile lamp, a hollow ball of copper containing alcohol which is converted into vapor by a lamp beneath, so as to make a powerful blowpipe flame when the vapor is ignited. --Weale.
 Arc lamp Elec., a form of lamp in which the voltaic arc is used as the source of light.
 Dëbereiner's lamp, an apparatus for the instantaneous production of a flame by the spontaneous ignition of a jet of hydrogen on being led over platinum sponge; -- named after the German chemist Döbereiner, who invented it. Called also philosopher's lamp.
 Flameless lamp, an aphlogistic lamp.
 Lamp burner, the part of a lamp where the wick is exposed and ignited. --Knight.
 Lamp fount, a reservoir for oil, in a lamp.
 Lamp jack. See 2d Jack, n., 4 (l) & (n).
 Lamp shade, a screen, as of paper, glass, or tin, for softening or obstructing the light of a lamp.
 Lamp shell Zool., any brachiopod shell of the genus Terebratula and allied genera. The name refers to the shape, which is like that of an antique lamp. See Terebratula.
 Safety lamp, a miner's lamp in which the flame is surrounded by fine wire gauze, preventing the kindling of dangerous explosive gases; -- called also, from Sir Humphry Davy the inventor, Davy lamp.
 To smell of the lamp, to bear marks of great study and labor, as a literary composition.
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 Safety chain. (a) Railroads A normally slack chain for preventing excessive movement between a truck and a car body in sluing. (b) An auxiliary watch chain, secured to the clothes, usually out of sight, to prevent stealing of the watch. (c) A chain of sheet metal links with an elongated hole through each broad end, made up by doubling the first link on itself, slipping the next link through and doubling, and so on.
 Safety arch Arch., a discharging arch. See under Discharge, v. t.
 Safety belt, a belt made of some buoyant material, or which is capable of being inflated, so as to enable a person to float in water; a life preserver.
 Safety buoy, a buoy to enable a person to float in water; a safety belt.
 Safety cage Mach., a cage for an elevator or mine lift, having appliances to prevent it from dropping if the lifting rope should break.
 Safety lamp. Mining See under Lamp.
 Safety match, a match which can be ignited only on a surface specially prepared for the purpose.
 Safety pin, a pin made in the form of a clasp, with a guard covering its point so that it will not prick the wearer.
 Safety plug. See Fusible plug, under Fusible.
 Safety switch. See Switch.
 Safety touchdown Football, the act or result of a player's touching to the ground behind his own goal line a ball which received its last impulse from a man on his own side; -- distinguished from touchback. See Touchdown.  Same as safety
 Safety tube Chem., a tube to prevent explosion, or to control delivery of gases by an automatic valvular connection with the outer air; especially, a bent funnel tube with bulbs for adding those reagents which produce unpleasant fumes or violent effervescence.
 Safety valve, a valve which is held shut by a spring or weight and opens automatically to permit the escape of steam, or confined gas, water, etc., from a boiler, or other vessel, when the pressure becomes too great for safety; also, sometimes, a similar valve opening inward to admit air to a vessel in which the pressure is less than that of the atmosphere, to prevent collapse.
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 Da·vy lamp See Safety lamp, under Lamp.
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 safety lamp
      n : an oil lamp that will not ignite flammable gases (methane)
          [syn: Davy lamp]