JACK-O'-LANTERN • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Jack-o'-lantern

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/dʒæk-oʊ-lˈæntərn/ Listen

noun

Jack-with-a-lantern, Jack-o'-lantern n.

(Biol.) A large orange-colored luminescent mushroom, Clitocybe illudens, also classified as Omphalotus olearius. It is poisonous and is sometimes found on hardwood tree stumps.

Synonyms: jack-a-lantern, Clitocybe illudens.

A pale light sometimes seen at night over marshy ground; an ignis fatuus; a will-o'-the-wisp. "(Newspaper speculations) supplying so many more jack-o'-lanterns to the future historian."

Synonyms: friar's lantern, ignis fatuus, will-o'-the-wisp.

A lantern carved from a hollowed-out pumpkin, with holes cut in the rind and so shaped that when it is illuminated by a candle inside, the features of a human face, cat's face, etc. appear in a glowing yellow color. It is used mostly as a decoration at Halloween.

See images of 'Jack-o'-lantern'

Etymology of 'Jack-o'-lantern'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Jack-o'-lantern" Quotes from Famous Books

... stunt, Nora," observed David. "Let's have something more improved and up-to-date. Suppose, for instance, we use Marian's Jack-o'-lantern for the head. I'll put some little electric bulbs in the eye holes and attach them to a battery so that we can turn her eyes off and on. And we'll ride her on a broomstick ...

— Grace Harlowe's Plebe Year at High School - The Merry Doings of the Oakdale Freshmen Girls • Jessie Graham Flower