minuterien.
/mᵻˈnjuːt(ə)ri/, U.S. /məˌnudəˈri/ An electric light controlled by a switch incorporating a mechanism that automatically turns the light off a short time after it has been (manually) turned on; (also) the switch itself.
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the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > artificial light defined by light-source > electric light > [noun] > parts of
light fixture1888
dimmer switch1896
lamp-cap1899
flasher1909
light switch1912
bayonet cap1914
light button1928
light cord1930
coiled coil1935
minuterie1955
wallwasher1966
1955 W. Gaddis Recognitions i. ii. 72 Crémer opened the door, and the light of the minuterie threw his flat shadow across the sill.
1958 E. Dundy Dud Avocado i. iii. 52 Racing from minuterie to minuterie to keep the stairs in a blaze of 40-watt bulbs.
1962 A. Williams Long Run South v. i. 160 He went up in the lift and pressed the minuterie.
1971 M. McCarthy Birds of Amer. 302 On the second landing he found it..in the weak light of the minuterie.
1991 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 10 Nov. 13/3 I used to..grope my way up..to the second floor by the light of a single bulb, which went on for only a few seconds at a time after I had pressed that devilish French invention, the minuterie button.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1955