lamplighter

American  

[lamp-lahy-ter] / ˈlæmpˌlaɪ tər /

noun

1. a person employed to light and extinguish street lamps, especially those burning gas.

2. a contrivance for lighting lamps.

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lamplighter British  

/ ˈlæmpˌlaɪtə /

noun

1. (formerly) a person who lit and extinguished street lamps, esp gas ones

2. any of various devices used to light lamps

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Etymology

Origin of lamplighter

First recorded in 1740–50; lamp + lighter ¹

Example Sentences

A lamplighter scuttled along the edges of the crowd igniting the gas jets atop cast-iron poles.

From Literature

A lamplighter some blocks down reached up with his long pole to extinguish the street lamp.

From Literature

Miranda, who recently won a Pulitzer Prize for creating and starring in Broadway's historical, hip-hop musical "Hamilton," will play a new character named Jack, a street lamplighter.

From Reuters

He chose to do “Mary Poppins Returns” next, taking on the role of Jack, a warm-hearted lamplighter with ties to Mary Poppins and her old cohort, Bert.

From Los Angeles Times

On Fourth Street, an old-fashioned lamplighter looks like he’s making his evening rounds.

From Washington Times