*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of lamp

Etymology tree Ancient Greek λᾰ́μπω (lắmpō) Ancient Greek -άζω (-ázō) Ancient Greek -ᾰ́ς (-ắs) Ancient Greek λᾰμπᾰ́ς (lămpắs) Medieval Greek λαμπάδα (lampáda)bor. Late Latin lampada Old French lampebor. Middle English la

2 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 2 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Unnumbered source etymology · variant 1/2

Original entry ↗
noun

A device that generates light, heat, or other electromagnetic radiation. Especially an electric light bulb. · A device containing oil, burnt through a wick for illumination; an oil lamp. · A piece of furniture holding one or more electric light sockets. · An eye.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Etymology tree Ancient Greek λᾰ́μπω (lắmpō) Ancient Greek -άζω (-ázō) Ancient Greek -ᾰ́ς (-ắs) Ancient Greek λᾰμπᾰ́ς (lămpắs) Medieval Greek λαμπάδα (lampáda)bor. Late Latin lampada Old French lampebor. Middle English laumpe English lamp From Middle English laumpe, lampe, from Old French lampe (“lamp, light”), from Latin lampas (“torch, lamp, light”), from Ancient Greek λαμπάς (lampás, “torch, lamp, beacon, light, meteor”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₂p- (“to shine”). Cognate with Lithuanian lópė (“light”), Welsh llachar (“bright”). Displaced native Old English lēohtfæt (literally “light-vat”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "enm:laumpe",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nAncient Greek λᾰ́μπω (lắmpō)\nAncient Greek -άζω (-ázō)\nAncient Greek -ᾰ́ς (-ắs)\nAncient Greek λᾰμπᾰ́ς (lămpắs)\nMedieval Greek λαμπάδα (lampáda)bor.\nLate Latin lampada\nOld French lampebor.\nMiddle English laumpe\nEnglish lamp\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"lamp\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"gloss\" : \"shine\", \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"λᾰ́μπω\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" }, { \"id\" : \"verbal suffix\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"verbal suffix\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"-άζω\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"-ᾰ́ς\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"λᾰμπᾰ́ς\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Medieval Greek\", \"term\" : \"λαμπάδα\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gkm\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Late Latin\", \"term\" : \"lampada\", \"lang\" : \"la-lat\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"lampe\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"laumpe\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"lamp\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"lamp\">"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
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      },
      "expansion": "Middle English laumpe"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "lampe",
        "4": "",
        "5": "lamp, light"
      },
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    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "lampas",
        "4": "",
        "5": "torch, lamp, light"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin lampas (“torch, lamp, light”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "grc",
        "3": "λαμπάς",
        "4": "",
        "5": "torch, lamp, beacon, light, meteor"
      },
      "expansion": "Ancient Greek λαμπάς (lampás, “torch, lamp, beacon, light, meteor”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*leh₂p-",
        "4": "",
        "5": "to shine"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *leh₂p- (“to shine”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "lt",
        "2": "lópė",
        "3": "",
        "4": "light"
      },
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    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "cy",
        "2": "llachar",
        "3": "",
        "4": "bright"
      },
      "expansion": "Welsh llachar (“bright”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "ang",
        "2": "lēohtfæt",
        "lit": "light-vat"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English lēohtfæt (literally “light-vat”)"
    },
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      "name": "ety",
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      },
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    }
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    ],
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    ],
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      "-ᾰ́ς",
      "-άς#Ancient_Greek:_verbal_suffix"
    ],
    [
      "λᾰμπᾰ́ς",
      "λαμπάς#Ancient_Greek"
    ],
    [
      "λαμπάδα",
      "λαμπάδα#Ancient_Greek"
    ],
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      "lampada",
      "lampada#Latin:_lamp"
    ],
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      "lampe",
      "lampe#Old_French"
    ],
    [
      "laumpe",
      "laumpe#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "laumpe",
      "laumpe#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "lampe",
      "lampe#Middle_English"
    ],
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      "lampe",
      "lampe#Old_French"
    ],
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      "lampas",
      "lampas#Latin"
    ],
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    ],
    [
      "*leh₂p-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/leh₂p-"
    ],
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      "lópė",
      "lopė#Lithuanian"
    ],
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      "llachar",
      "llachar#Welsh"
    ],
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      "lēohtfæt",
      "leohtfæt#Old_English"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "Tok Pisin",
      "lang_code": "tpi",
      "word": "lam"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Korean",
      "lang_code": "ko",
      "word": "램프",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "raempeu"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Pohnpeian",
      "lang_code": "pon",
      "word": "lamp",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A device that generates light, heat, or other electromagnetic radiation. Especially an electric light bulb.",
        "A device containing oil, burnt through a wick for illumination; an oil lamp.",
        "A piece of furniture holding one or more electric light sockets.",
        "An eye."
      ],
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}

Unnumbered source etymology · variant 2/2

Original entry ↗
verb

To hit, clout, belt, wallop. · To hunt at night using a lamp, during which bright lights are used to dazzle the hunted animal or to attract insects for capture. · To hang out or chill; to do nothing in particular. · To make (something, such as a vase or urn) into a table lamp.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Etymology tree Ancient Greek λᾰ́μπω (lắmpō) Ancient Greek -άζω (-ázō) Ancient Greek -ᾰ́ς (-ắs) Ancient Greek λᾰμπᾰ́ς (lămpắs) Medieval Greek λαμπάδα (lampáda)bor. Late Latin lampada Old French lampebor. Middle English laumpe English lamp From Middle English laumpe, lampe, from Old French lampe (“lamp, light”), from Latin lampas (“torch, lamp, light”), from Ancient Greek λαμπάς (lampás, “torch, lamp, beacon, light, meteor”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₂p- (“to shine”). Cognate with Lithuanian lópė (“light”), Welsh llachar (“bright”). Displaced native Old English lēohtfæt (literally “light-vat”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "enm:laumpe",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nAncient Greek λᾰ́μπω (lắmpō)\nAncient Greek -άζω (-ázō)\nAncient Greek -ᾰ́ς (-ắs)\nAncient Greek λᾰμπᾰ́ς (lămpắs)\nMedieval Greek λαμπάδα (lampáda)bor.\nLate Latin lampada\nOld French lampebor.\nMiddle English laumpe\nEnglish lamp\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"lamp\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"gloss\" : \"shine\", \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"λᾰ́μπω\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" }, { \"id\" : \"verbal suffix\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"verbal suffix\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"-άζω\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"-ᾰ́ς\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"λᾰμπᾰ́ς\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Medieval Greek\", \"term\" : \"λαμπάδα\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gkm\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Late Latin\", \"term\" : \"lampada\", \"lang\" : \"la-lat\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"lampe\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"laumpe\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"lamp\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"lamp\">"
    },
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      "name": "inh",
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      },
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    },
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      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "lampe",
        "4": "",
        "5": "lamp, light"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French lampe (“lamp, light”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "lampas",
        "4": "",
        "5": "torch, lamp, light"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin lampas (“torch, lamp, light”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "grc",
        "3": "λαμπάς",
        "4": "",
        "5": "torch, lamp, beacon, light, meteor"
      },
      "expansion": "Ancient Greek λαμπάς (lampás, “torch, lamp, beacon, light, meteor”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
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        "5": "to shine"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *leh₂p- (“to shine”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "lt",
        "2": "lópė",
        "3": "",
        "4": "light"
      },
      "expansion": "Lithuanian lópė (“light”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "cy",
        "2": "llachar",
        "3": "",
        "4": "bright"
      },
      "expansion": "Welsh llachar (“bright”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "ang",
        "2": "lēohtfæt",
        "lit": "light-vat"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English lēohtfæt (literally “light-vat”)"
    },
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      "name": "ety",
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        "2": ":inh",
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        "tree": "1"
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    }
  ],
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    ],
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      "-άζω",
      "-άζω#Ancient_Greek:_verbal_suffix"
    ],
    [
      "-ᾰ́ς",
      "-άς#Ancient_Greek:_verbal_suffix"
    ],
    [
      "λᾰμπᾰ́ς",
      "λαμπάς#Ancient_Greek"
    ],
    [
      "λαμπάδα",
      "λαμπάδα#Ancient_Greek"
    ],
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      "lampada",
      "lampada#Latin:_lamp"
    ],
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      "lampe",
      "lampe#Old_French"
    ],
    [
      "laumpe",
      "laumpe#Middle_English"
    ],
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      "laumpe",
      "laumpe#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "lampe",
      "lampe#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "lampe",
      "lampe#Old_French"
    ],
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      "lampas",
      "lampas#Latin"
    ],
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      "λαμπάς",
      "λαμπάς#Ancient_Greek"
    ],
    [
      "*leh₂p-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/leh₂p-"
    ],
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      "lópė",
      "lopė#Lithuanian"
    ],
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      "llachar",
      "llachar#Welsh"
    ],
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      "lēohtfæt",
      "leohtfæt#Old_English"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
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    {
      "pos": "verb",
      "glosses": [
        "To hit, clout, belt, wallop.",
        "To hunt at night using a lamp, during which bright lights are used to dazzle the hunted animal or to attract insects for capture.",
        "To hang out or chill; to do nothing in particular.",
        "To make (something, such as a vase or urn) into a table lamp."
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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for lamp →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
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Import run
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Permanent entry ID
w-bGFtcA