Dictionary

lucifer en · NOUN

Pronunciation

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Meanings

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of lucifer match, sulfur or phosphorus friction matches.
   alt of lucifer match
   alt of sulfur or phosphorus friction matches
   • In the era of Twain and Grant cigar-smoking paraphernalia consisted mainly of a cigar cutter; the cigar itself was lit with a lucifer (safety match). 1996 November 14, J. E. Lighter, “Blowing Smoke”, in The Atlantic, →ISSN, archived from the original on 12 Sep 2015:
   • While you’ve a lucifer to light your fag, Smile, boys, that’s the style 1915, “Pack up your Troubles”, George Asaf (lyrics), Felix Powell (music):
   • The invention of the Lucifer Match has brought with it many dangers. In one year, in London, there were published thirty-nine accounts of serious conflagrations through children playing with lucifers, the igniting of the matches, and the careless use of them... To guard against the recurrence of these sad results has been invented "the Safety Match," or a match which cannot ignite by friction with ordinary substances... 1865, The Domestic Service Guide..., p. 223

Forms

Descendants

lucifer