luminairen.

1921 Trans. Illuminating Engin. Soc. (U.S.) 17 249 The matter of a generic term for ‘lighting unit’ was considered by the Committee... The suggested term ‘luminaire’ was deemed to be the most acceptable... It is not a coined word but is a term already in use in the French language.

1925 M. Luckiesh in Cady & Dates Illuminating Engin. ix. 363 In school lighting..luminaires should not be spaced farther apart than a distance of 1·5 times their elevation above the desk-tops.

1933 Trans. Illuminating Engin. Soc. (U.S.) 28 274 A luminaire is a complete lighting unit consisting of a light source, together with its direct appurtenances, such as globe, reflector, refractor, housing and such support as is integral with the housing.

1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 513/2 Luminaire,..a term sometimes used in America to denote an electric-light fitting.

1960 How TV Works iv. 24 The ceiling of a large studio such as Studio 6 in Manchester..may be fitted out with up to a hundred different lights, or ‘luminaires’ as they are more often called.

1971 Daily Tel. 21 Aug. 10 The British Standards Institution's committee responsible for electric light fittings has announced that in the interests of international standardisation it recommends the use of the word ‘luminaire’ instead of ‘lighting fittings’ in future.

1971 Bahamian Rev. Nov. 32/2 The ‘Night Guard’ luminaire is turned on automatically at dusk and switched off automatically at dawn, providing night-long security and safety.

1972 Henderson & Marsden Lamps & Lighting xix. 341 Luminaires can be divided into two categories: those which are essentially decorative and those which are essentially functional. Decorative luminaires are usually in the form of an assembly of decorative components around a light source, ranging from a simple pendant to the large..prestige chandelier.

1973 Times 1 Feb. 22/8 It is preposterous for BSI to force luminaires upon us.