Where does “arc light” come from?

arc light (English) comes from English ARC, from Middle English ark, from Old French arc, from Latin arcus, from Latin solium, from Proto-Indo-European sodyom, from Proto-Indo-European sḗd- — to sit.

arc light (English): A lamp that produces light by generating an electric arc across an enclosed gas

Definitions

  1. A lamp that produces light by generating an electric arc across an enclosed gas

Ancestry of “arc light”, step by step

arc light traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ARC

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishARCAcronym of advanced reader's copy, a copy of a...
2Middle EnglisharkThe path of the sun across the sky
3Old Frencharcbow; arch
4Latinarcusarc, arch; bow; rainbow
5Latinsoliumseat, chair; throne, chair of state, official...
6Proto-Indo-Europeansodyom
7Proto-Indo-Europeansḗd-to sit

via English Light

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishLightA place name
2Middle EnglishlightThe radiation which allows for vision by...
3Old Englishlēohtluminous, bright, light, clear, resplendent,...
4Proto-West Germanicleuhtlight, bright; light
5Proto-Germanicleuhtąlight
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlewktom
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlewk-bright; to shine; to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḗd-Every word from Proto-Indo-European sodyomEvery word from Latin solium