sometimes portable, as a closed vessel or case of horn, perforated tin, glass, oiled paper, or other material, having a lamp or candle within; sometimes fixed, as the glazed inclosure of a street light, or of a lighthouse light
{i} case with transparent sides in which a light is contained; light and its casing; light chamber of a lighthouse; open or windowed structure build on a roof to let in light or air
A smaller and secondary cupola crowning a larger one, for ornament, or to admit light; such as the lantern of the cupola of the Capitol at Washington, or that of the Florence cathedral
A kind of cage inserted in a stuffing box and surrounding a piston rod, to separate the packing into two parts and form a chamber between for the reception of steam, etc
[ 'lan-t&rn ] (noun.) 13th century. Middle English lanterne, from Old French, from Latin lanterna, from Greek lamptEr, from lampein to shine; more at LAMP.