Why it's called a "Flashlight"...

I just came upon this on Wikipedia. It might be common knowledge but I hadn’t read the explanation before.



“These early flashlights ran on zinc–carbon batteries, which could not provide a steady electric current and required periodic ‘rest’ to continue functioning. Because these early flashlights also used energy-inefficient carbon-filament bulbs, “resting” occurred at short intervals. Consequently, they could be used only in brief flashes, hence the popular name flashlight”.

We call them taskulamppu (pocket lamp) in Finland :)

We Vietnamese call them "đèn pin" (battery light)

It's a torch where I come from and it's a lantern where I live now.

We swedes calls them "ficklampa", and as our eastern neighbours it translates to "pocketlamp".

tim817, one of my computer customers brought some vacuum-packed tea from his hometown, in appreciation for helping him with an issue I really didn't have to do. Sort of a goodwill gesture, from me.

Haven't broken the bag seal yet, but it is Haiyih (Mountain) Tea.

San pham tra Olong chinb hieu (not sure of the last few words, as they are wrinkled from the vacuum-pack).

He was proud of the tea!

Back on topic, it is ironic that just yesterday I was going to search the origins of "flashlight", and now, don't have to!

In Belguim it is called zaklamp (NL) / lampe de poche (FR) / taschenlampe (D) (we have three official languages), they all could be translated as "pocket light".

I worked with a bunch of Belgians (the spelling doesn't look right) and they spoke Flemmish and French. Where does Flemmish come in the pecking order?

"φακός" is the Greek word for flashlight and "φακός" also means "lens". So, "my flashlight's lens" in Greek is "ο φακός του φακού μου"

According to Wikipedia it is about 60% Flemisch (Nederlands), 40% French (Frans), and less than 1% German (Duits).

Thank you. I forgot to mention their English was pretty good too.

In Slovenian it's the equivalent of "pocket lamp", but colloquially it's just "battery".

Even though it’s a small country in many ways it’s really two countries. They are always threatening (very politely however) :slight_smile: to separate into two countries.

Thanks for all the responses. I was hoping others would post regarding what it’s called in their country. I didn’t know it was basically referred to as a pocket lamp in so many countries.

Same in Icelandic...vasaljós...who knew?

Actually that's all nonsense, in reality Belgium doesn't even exist.

We seem to live in pods below Disneyland resort Paris...

What? I can’t hear you. It’s almost as if there is no one there :slight_smile:

Dang it now i am gonna have to google how they came up with the name. Condom.......................

Condom History and Facts


There are few possible explanations for how the condom got its name. The most popular legend says that the condom was named for a British physician who lived during the reign of Charles II (1660-85). Some suggest "condom" come from Italian "guanto" (glove). It also may be derived from Condus, the Latin for receptacle.

Recognized since Roman times, the first condoms were made of linen cloth sheaths, woven fabrics, animal intestines.

In 1500's when the syphilis epidemic spread across Europe linen sheaths were used to prevent infection, and it was only later that the usefulness of the condom for the prevention of pregnancy was recognized.

Mass production of condoms started in the mid-19th century, shortly after the invention of the rubber vulcanization (process that turns the rubber into a strong elastic material: condoms made of vulcanized rubber latex may be stretched in excess of 800% before breaking) by Goodyear and Hancock. By the mid-1930s, 1.5 million condoms were produced a day in the US.

From the early 1960s to the 1980's the condoms were less popular as a contraceptive as compared with the birth control pill.

However in the 1980's when HIV/AIDS was recognized, the use of the condom increased dramatically in many countries. Condoms became available in pubs, bars, grocery stores and supermarkets.

According to the global sex survey 2005 by Durex, people globally have had an average number of nine sexual partners with 44% of adults worldwide having had a one-night stand.

UNAIDS estimates that more than 2 million people were living with HIV in Europe at the end of December 2004.

Yes I am bored tonight...................................netflix here i come!

In Canada we call them 'igloo-candles'. It gets dark in our igloos at night. They are also handy for polar bear spotting while walking the pet penguins. Eh?

Anyways. Flashlight is what I hear/use most although I do like to use 'torch'.

in Turkey we say "el feneri" (hand lantern)....