Betty lamp

English

Alternative forms

• betty lamp, betty-lamp

Etymology

Derives its name from German besser (“better”).

Noun

Betty lamp (plural Betty lamps)

1. (historical) A lamp consisting of a shallow lidded metal vessel with a small spout for a coarse wick, fueled by tallow, grease, or oil, usually hung by a hook and chain, and used especially in the American colonies.
   • 1910, James Otis, Ruth of Boston‎^[1]:

     You, who have more or less trouble with your rush lights, cannot fancy how luxurious it is to have one of these betty-lamps, which costs in care no more than is required to fill them with grease or oil.

   • 1999, J G Passarella, Wither, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 160:

     Taking the long candlestick from the windowsill, she hurries to the betty lamp, pulls its wick out with the chain pick, and lights her candle from the bear fat flame.

Further reading

• Betty lamp on Wikipedia.Wikipedia