riding lamp
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - A light displayed by a ship at anchor: A "riding lamp" is a specific light, typically a lantern, that a ship shows when it is anchored (riding at anchor) at night. Its purpose is to signal the ship's position and status to other vessels to prevent collisions.
Usage
- The "riding lamp" is a maritime safety signal. It is hung in the ship's rigging (the system of ropes, cables, and chains) to make it visible from all directions.
- Example:
- Example:
Advanced Usage
- The term is historical and traditional. Modern regulations (like the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, or COLREGs) use the term "anchor light" instead of "riding lamp." An anchor light is a white all-round light displayed where it can best be seen.
- Example:
Variants and Related Words
- Anchor light (n): The modern, regulatory term for the light a vessel displays at anchor. This is the standard term used in contemporary nautical contexts.
- Riding light (n): A direct synonym for "riding lamp."
- Masthead light (n): A different, white light displayed on a ship underway, fixed to show over an arc of the horizon. Not to be confused with an anchor/riding light, which shows all around.
Synonyms
- Anchor light
- Riding light
Notes on Meaning
- The core meaning is singular and specific: a light shown by an anchored vessel. It does not refer to lamps used for other purposes, such as interior cabin lights or navigation lights used while a ship is moving.
Noun
- a light in the rigging of a ship that is riding at anchor