Where does “gaslight” come from?
Gaslight comes from English gas and light, where gas derives from Dutch gas, itself from Ancient Greek χάος meaning chaos or void, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European lewk- meaning to shine.
gaslight (English): A lamp which operates by burning piped...
Definitions
- A lamp which operates by burning piped...
Ancestry of “gaslight”, step by step
gaslight traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English Light
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Light | A place name |
| 2 | Middle English | light | The radiation which allows for vision by... |
| 3 | Old English | lēoht | luminous, bright, light, clear, resplendent,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | leuht | light, bright; light |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | leuhtą | light |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewktom | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |
via English gas
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | gas | Matter in a state intermediate between liquid and... |
| 2 | Dutch | gas | gas; liquefied petroleum gas; unpaved street |
via English Gas Light
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Gas Light | — |