headlight orig. U.S.
(ˈhɛdlaɪt)
Also with hyphen.
A powerful light carried on the front of a locomotive or on the mast-head of a vessel; each of two powerful lamps carried on the front of a motor vehicle. Also attrib. and fig.
| 1861 Remin. Life Railroad Engineer 124, I saw the glimmer of his head-light when he first turned the curve. 1862 in U.S. Pat. 35486. 1891 C. Roberts Adrift Amer. iii. 55 The great head-light which forms such a noticeable feature of American engines at night. 1904 A. B. F. Young Compl. Motorist (ed. 2) xii. 257 On dark nights it is advisable, when driving in the country, to carry on such cars a single head-light of greater power... On very fast cars two of these head-lights should be carried. 1907 Autocar 28 Dec. 1067/2 The thief calmly took the large valuable head light off and disappeared. 1929 Evening News 18 Nov. 4/4 He had almost reached the high road when the headlights of an automobile swung round a corner. 1959 Sears, Roebuck Catal. Spring & Summer 1103/3 Chrome-plated headlight shields. 1963 Times 13 Mar. 10/6 It has transistorised ignition, a.c. electrical generator, automatic headlight dipper, [etc.]. 1971 Daily Tel. 11 Feb. 11/2 It is only when they commit some offence that they are caught in the headlights of history. 1973 ‘M. Innes’ Appleby's Answer iv. xx. 172 The sound of a motor engine..and the sudden appearance of wavering headlights. |