Dictionary

lamp oil en · NOUN

Etymology

From Middle English lamp oyl, lampehoyle, lamp oyle, lampe oyl, lampe oyle, equivalent to lamp + oil. Compare West Frisian lampoalje (“lamp-oil”), Dutch lampolie (“lamp-oil”), German Lampenöl (“lamp-oil”), Danish lampeolie (“lamp-oil”), Swedish lampolja (“lamp-oil”), Icelandic lampaolía (“lamp-oil”).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Any clean-burning oil used as fuel in an oil lamp.
   • He was much pleased at the prospect of the oil he would get from him, turned the heavy creature from one side to the other, fondled him like a baby, and assured me he was a "stunning fat sea-cub," which should be welcomed at home for boot-grease and lamp-oil. 1886, Peter Christen Asbjø￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 184:
   • Near-synonym: (often synonymous) kerosene

Forms

Relateds

lamplight · lamplighter · lampwick · light oil

Synonyms

kerosene

Translations (3)

nl lampolie (oil used in lamps) · fi lamppuöljy (oil used in lamps) · tr kandil yağı (oil used in lamps)