| 释义 |
ˈsearch-light
[f. search n. + light n.]
1. An electric arc-lamp fitted with a reflector and suspended in a frame so that it may throw a beam of light in any desired direction; used in naval defence and for signalling purposes, etc. Also, the beam of light thrown by such a lamp.
1883Pall Mall Gaz. 2 Oct. 16/1 These Dynamos can be supplied..for arc, search-light, or incandescent lamps. 1884Ibid. 18 Sept. 8/1 An admiral..reported..that no search lights..could enable him to prevent a torpedo boat steaming within 400 yards of his flagship. 1902L.C.C. Bye-law in Encycl. Brit. XXV. 97/1 No person shall exhibit any searchlight so as to be visible from any street and to cause danger to the traffic therein. 1919Kipling in Hutchinson's Story Mag. July 12 And the crazy skies are lit By the searchlights of the Pit. 1929S. Leslie Anglo-Catholic xvi. 225 He pointed..to the Northern sky, across which dropped a silver ribbon of attenuated search-light. 1943L. B. Lyon Evening in Stepney 12 Across and across it move The search-lights, reckoning hate on a hidden clock.
fig.1892Mrs. A. Crosse Red-letter Days II. 195 Kinglake in his history reveals, with the searchlight of a detective, the secret chronicles of the ‘Brethren of the Élysée’. 1904S. G. Tallentyre Life Voltaire II. xl. 234 Each..turned on some miscarriage of civil justice the searchlight of truth.
Hence as v. trans., to illuminate with a search-light; also fig.
1914W. De Morgan When Ghost meets Ghost i. xxix. 344 That officer..was searchlighting areas for want of something to do. 1966Prison Service Jrnl. VI. 21/2 We find our own failings..are searchlighted. |