torchlightn.
a. The light of a torch; illumination by a torch or torches.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > [noun] > torchlight
torchlightc1425
flare1815
c1425 Brut ccxliii. 367 He was brouȝt to London on an hors beere, with myche torche lyghte.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur xvii. ii. 691 The mayde..armed hym by torche lyght.
1555 Coventry Leet Bk. 813 Euery of them to haue a man weytinge vppon hym with torche-light.
1619 T. Middleton Triumphs Loue & Antiq. sig. C4 His Lordship returnes by Torch-light to his owne house.
1726 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey IV. xviii. 401 The shining baldness of his head survey, It aids our torch-light.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xvi. 629 He made a final inspection of his forces by torchlight.
b. The time when torches are lighted; dusk.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > naturally occurring light > [noun] > sunlight or sunshine > twilight
evengloamOE
twilighting1387
crepusculum1398
crepusculec1400
twilightc1440
twinlightc1532
grisping1580
grey1592
owl-light1599
gropsing1606
twatter-light1606
twitterlight1608
dusk1622
grasp1650
torchlighta1656
crepuscle1665
mock-shade1669
dimps1693
duskish1696
dimmit1746
darklins1767
twilight glow1819
gloama1821
owlet light1821
sandhya1876
dusk-light1937
the world > time > day and night > day or daytime > evening > [noun] > twilight, dusk, or nightfall
nighteOE
evengloamOE
eveningOE
gloamingc1000
darknessa1382
twilighting1387
crepusculum1398
crepusculec1400
darkc1400
twilight1412
sky1515
twinlightc1532
day-going?1552
cockshut1592
shutting1598
blind man's holiday1599
candle-lighting1605
gropsing1606
nightfall1612
dusk1622
torchlighta1656
candlelight1663
crepuscle1665
shut1667
mock-shade1669
close1696
duskish1696
glooma1699
setting1699
dimmit1746
to-fall of the day or night1748
darklins1767
even-close1781
mirkning1790
gloaming-shot1793
darkening1814
bat-flying time1818
gloama1821
between-light1821
settle1822
dayfall1823
evenfall1825
onfall1825
owl-hoot1832
glooming1842
darkfall1884
smokefall1936
dusk-light1937
a1656 Bp. J. Hall Shaking of Olive-tree (1660) i. 47 It now grew to be Torch-light.
1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee Canterbury Tales II. 323 I faintly recollect, that it was torch-light.
c. attributive. Performed or carried on by torchlight.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > torch > [adjective] > lit by a torch
torched1820
torchlight1837
torch-lit1842
1837 New Yorker 30 Sept. 441/3 A Loco-Foco ‘Torch-Light Meeting’, auxiliary to the larger concern in Tammany, was held in the Park on Thursday Evening.
1852 G. Bancroft Hist. Amer. Revol. II. xix. 404 In the evening a vast torch-light procession.
1884 West. Morn. News 15 Sept. 5/4 Lord Fife gave a torchlight ball at Mar Lodge.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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n.c1425