headlampn.
/ˈhɛdlamp/, U.S. /ˈhɛdˌlæmp/ 1. A powerful lamp at the front of a vehicle (now esp. a motor vehicle), used to illuminate the way ahead and to increase the visibility of one's own vehicle, esp. at night; = headlight n. 1.See note at headlight n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > parts and equipment of vehicles generally > [noun] > lights and reflectors
signal light1743
tail-light1844
headlight1845
headlamp1851
tail-lamp1891
reflector1909
spotlight1916
fogs1974
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > headlight
headlamp1851
headlight1899
head1959
1851 Rep. Accident Ponders' End Station in Rep. Commissioners Railways XXX. 11 I..went to see an extra head-lamp fixed to my engine, to mark that it was a special train.
1885 R. Kipling Phantom 'Rickshaw in Quariette 96 It [sc. a rickshaw] lay in readiness in the Mall, and..with a lighted head-lamp.
1905 Motor 24 Jan. 680/3 Electric head lamps for broughams.
1961 Times 25 Apr. 17/3 The first British production car to be fitted with two pairs of twin headlamps.
1972 Country Life 7 Dec. 1592/3 The brakes were effective..and wipers and headlamps very good.
2008 C. Coble Anathema i. 3 The car's headlamps caught the gleam of his badge.
2. A small lamp attached to a hat or helmet, or worn strapped to the forehead.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > [noun] > lamp > in a specific place or position
side lamp1780
centre light1821
hall-lamp1834
headlamp1879
1879 Fort Wayne (Indiana) Sentinel 5 July 5/3 The dusky diamonds were piled high on the wagon, surmounted by a grimy miner with pick in hand and his head-lamp burning brightly.
1932 Pop. Sci. Monthly Apr. 47/3 Like a miner's headlamp is a new helmet for motorists, recently exhibited in London, England.
1984 M. Shields Sled Dog Trails v. 47 She was all smiles, her head lamp pushed back on her forehead, her big parka unzipped.
2008 Sunday Mail (Queensland) (Nexis) 17 Aug. 4 We throw on some bright orange overalls, hard hat, gumboots and headlamp to descend into Hard Times Mine.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1851