Headlight Confusion

Jerommel · 2019-01-09T10:55:18.000Z

Yes, it’s true that both terms are used for head lamps.
But i don’t think vehicle headlights are also called head lamps, though.

Mike_C · 2019-01-09T11:56:57.000Z

Jerommel:

Yes, it’s true that both terms are used for head lamps.
But i don’t think vehicle headlights are also called head lamps, though.

Wikipedia disagrees: Headlamp - Wikipedia

Jerommel · 2019-01-09T12:11:43.000Z

Then i disagree with Wikipedia.

RobertB · 2019-01-09T13:17:17.000Z

Jerommel:

Then i disagree with Wikipedia.

Haha, that guy who wrote that Wiki page doesn’t know. All the dictionary’s seem to, except Wiki

toddcshoe · 2019-01-10T02:05:02.000Z

Seems using headlamp or headlight for vehicles is region dependent. Maybe country dependent as well. I have heard both used depending on where the person I was talking to is from. I rarely if ever depend on Wiki-anything. Anyone can contribute to any subject and it gets printed.

jigsaw · 2019-01-10T03:01:05.000Z

Jerommel:

The ones you wear on your head are called ‘headlamps’.
Vehicles have ‘headlights’.

I agree with this and I think it should be the rule of law.

Mike_C · 2019-01-10T09:35:20.000Z

RobertB:

Jerommel:

Then i disagree with Wikipedia.

Haha, that guy who wrote that Wiki page doesn’t know. All the dictionary’s seem to, except Wiki

Are you sure about that? You didn’t check the synonyms below? At least two of them besides wiki got it “wrong”
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/headlamp
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/headlamp

Blackbeard · 2019-01-10T09:40:55.000Z

Also have heard both terms used for cars and heads, still sounds better then forehead flashlight

kiriba-ru · 2019-01-10T10:00:44.000Z

Jerommel:

The ones you wear on your head are called ‘headlamps’.
Vehicles have ‘headlights’.

100% agree.
Doesnt matter what wiki says about this. All car service e-catalogs using word “headlight”.

Mike_C · 2019-01-10T10:06:11.000Z

kiriba-ru:

Jerommel:

The ones you wear on your head are called ‘headlamps’.
Vehicles have ‘headlights’.

Doesnt matter what wiki says about this. All car service e-catalogs using word “headlight”.

Are you sure about that? I quickly found two car service providers who got it “wrong”

halfords.com

Headlamp Alignment | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Alignment on both lamps Recommended whenever a new bulb is fitted Headlamp alignment is an important road safety feature at Halfords UK

https://www.nortonwayhonda.co.uk/service-parts-offers/headlamp-repair/

kiriba-ru · 2019-01-10T10:10:06.000Z

Your links goes to random custom services who just want to bring many visiters to their website.
Check elsa, etka, epcdata, microcat etc.

Mike_C · 2019-01-10T10:12:31.000Z

kiriba-ru:

Your links goes to random custom services who just want to bring many visiters to their website.
Check elsa, etka, epcdata, microcat etc.

Are you sure about that? You didn’t click on the second link, did you?

tatasal · 2019-01-10T10:45:44.000Z

What I know was Aladdin rub the lamp, not the light.

kiriba-ru · 2019-01-10T10:37:14.000Z

Ok. I was not right.
They are still called headlamps in most Japan/Korea catalogs.

Jerommel · 2019-01-10T10:51:15.000Z

Maybe the cause of the confusion is that in the beginning of vehicle lighting they used lamps as a headlight.
In those days a headlight was an independently functioning device.
They just put an oil lamp and later a carbide lamp on the vehicle.
That of course changed when vehicle headlights became a part of the vehicle, and became electrical, running off the engine dynamo and / or the accumulator.

Not sure how a flashlight came to be a light rather than a lamp though…
No idea why a flashlight has that “flash” word in it either…

Mike_C · 2019-01-10T11:03:45.000Z

First I thought it was just the British. They have car terminology that is different from the Americans. Like petrol vs gasoline, boot vs trunk, gearbox vs transmission etc etc. But during my quick search I found this page:
https://www.greenandwhiteauto.com/services/outside-the-car/spring-headlight-replacement.html
They appear to use the term headlight for the whole light, and headlamp specifically for the actual bulb inside the headlight… I find that a little odd. Or maybe they just want multiple search hits, just like suggested above.

Jerommel · 2019-01-10T12:55:32.000Z

The French have really confusing car terminology…
Essence = fuel
Gazole = diesel
Feux (means fire) = light
Vitesse = gear
Transmission = broadcast…

RobertB · 2019-01-10T12:46:56.000Z

Jerommel:

The French have really confusing car terminology…
Essence = fuel
Gasole = diesel
Feux (means fire) = light
Vitesse = gear
Transmission = broadcast…

My wife is from France and we travel there often. Took me some time to remember which was diesel and which was gasoline. Never sure what to put in the rental car when it’s a non-diesel car.

Gazole, Gasoil, or Gasole = diesel
Sans Plomb = gasoline (with varying amounts of ethanol)
Super Carburant (not sure what it is)

Jerommel · 2019-01-10T13:02:59.000Z

You’re right, Gazole is with a z.
Carburant could be fuel for kerosine heaters. (not sure)

They’re gonna make it all the same throughout Europe, i forget how exactly.
I think with a letter and a number.

Oh, by the way, in my language (Dutch) a headlamp is a “hoofdlamp”, “hoofd” = head, a human head in particular.
A headlight is a “koplamp”, “kop” = head, but for animals and objects (or derogatory for humans).
So there’s no confusion between the 2 in Dutch.

X31 · 2019-01-10T13:30:10.000Z

Super is leaded gasoline
Super Sans Plomb 95/98 is unleaded gasoline with various octane index

EDIT :
headlight = phare (de voiture)
headlamp = lampe frontale (front meaning forehead)