WordNet
n. a lamp that burns oil (as kerosine) for light [syn: oil lamp, kerosine lamp]
Wikipedia
A kerosene lamp (usually called a paraffin lamp in some countries) is a type of lighting device that uses kerosene (paraffin) as a fuel. Kerosene lamps have a wick or mantle as light source, protected by a glass chimney or globe; lamps may be used on a table, or hand-held lanterns may be used for portable lighting. Like oil lamps, they are useful for lighting without electricity, such as in regions without rural electrification, in electrified areas during power outages, at campsites, and on boats. There are three types of kerosene lamp: flat wick, central draught (tubular round wick), and mantle lamp. Kerosene lanterns meant for portable use have a flat wick and are made in dead flame, hot blast, and cold blast variants.
Pressurized kerosene lamps have a gas generator and gas mantle; these are known as Petromax, Tilley lamps, or Coleman lamps, among other manufacturers. They produce more light per unit of fuel than wick-type lamps, but are more complex and expensive in construction, and more complex to operate. A hand-pump pressurizes air, which forces liquid fuel from a reservoir into a gas generator. Vapor from the gas generator burns, heating a mantle to incandescence and also providing heat to the gas generator.
The first description of a simple lamp using crude mineral oil was provided by al-Razi (Rhazes) in 9th century Baghdad, who referred to it as the "naffatah" in his Kitab al-Asrar (Book of Secrets). In 1846 Abraham Pineo Gesner invented a substitute for whale oil for lighting, distilled from coal. Later made from petroleum, kerosene became a popular lighting fuel. Modern versions of the kerosene lamp were later constructed by the Polish inventor Ignacy Łukasiewicz in 1853 in Lviv.
Kerosene lamps are widely used for lighting in rural areas of Africa and Asia where electricity is not distributed, or is too costly. Kerosene lamps consume an estimated 77 billion litres of fuel per year, equivalent to 1.3 million barrels of oil per day, comparable to annual U.S. jet fuel consumption of 76 billion litres per year.
Usage examples of "kerosene lamp".
And so it came about that just as the electric light was killing the kerosene lamp, and it looked as though petroleum would become a drug on the market, the coming of gasoline-powered motorcars gave petroleum a new lease on life.
The interior of the furnace was dimly lit by a shaft of light from above, more brightly by the kerosene lamp the slave behind them held.
A few candles melded to saucers and a kerosene lamp were set around the room, which contained two unrolled sleeping bags, a cot, and a nest of newspapers tucked away in a corner.
He kept relighting the stump of his cigarette in the stream of hot air over the kerosene lamp, puffing greedily.
I was looking at the window behind him, a window which the kerosene lamp inside and the darkness outside transformed into an almost perfect mirror.
I fetched a kerosene lamp, lit it up and dialed the wick up to a bright flame, then got ready to descend the folding wooden ladder into the sub-basement.
In a few moments she re-entered the bedroom and set down a lighted kerosene lamp on the small table.
A kerosene lamp had been left burning with a low flame in a far corner of the room.
He then sat in the small parlor of the cottage, and began to read by kerosene lamp a copy of Artemus Ward.
He reached beneath his furs and felt for the kerosene lamp he was carrying from a short rope at his waist.
When he lit a kerosene lamp, he understood what was going on: the flame from the match made the wick and the kerosene that soaked up through it burn.
In the half-light of a single kerosene lamp, Tilden looked to be all grey like a corpse.