floating light
[f. floating ppl. a. + light n.]
a. A lightship: called also more fully, floating-light-vessel. b. A life-buoy with a lantern, for use when any one falls overboard at night.
| 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §94 A vessel was then fitting out..as a temporary floating Light. Ibid. Till the determination in respect to the floating light-vessel was known. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Floating-light, a life-buoy carried at a ship's stern, with a light or lanthorn. |