Unfrosted light bulb
In Catch-22 there is following passage (my emphasis):
The unfrosted light bulb overhead was swinging crazily on its loose wire, and the jumbled black shadows kept swirling and bobbing chaotically, so that the entire tent seemed to be reeling.
Why is the light bulb "unfrosted"? I understand the meaning of "unfrost", but I don't understand how a light bulb can be unfrosted. Is this some metaphor?
meaning meaning-in-context american-english
asked 4 hours ago
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
397211
|
show 6 more comments
In Catch-22 there is following passage (my emphasis):
The unfrosted light bulb overhead was swinging crazily on its loose wire, and the jumbled black shadows kept swirling and bobbing chaotically, so that the entire tent seemed to be reeling.
Why is the light bulb "unfrosted"? I understand the meaning of "unfrost", but I don't understand how a light bulb can be unfrosted. Is this some metaphor?
meaning meaning-in-context american-english
asked 4 hours ago
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
397211
4
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago
1
Most of the old-style incandescent light bulbs were "frosted" (acid-etched or something) so they gave a more "diffuse" light source. Clear glass bulbs (where you'd actually be able to see the bright glowing filament clearly) were more common even earlier (they were also cheaper, once). Hence the cited usage is "atmospheric" (it's old spooky sort of place, with a correspondingly antiquated light source). Like ghost stories are usually set in old castles, not modern apartments.
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
@HotLicks: Snap2! Can't we measure "weight, mass, gravity/gravitas" here in terms of number of words, rather than speed of response? :)
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
...anyway, I am catching up. I think you only beat me by about 30 secs this time, but it was over 45 secs last time!
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
Are you claiming that your responses are more gravid than mine?
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
In Catch-22 there is following passage (my emphasis):
The unfrosted light bulb overhead was swinging crazily on its loose wire, and the jumbled black shadows kept swirling and bobbing chaotically, so that the entire tent seemed to be reeling.
Why is the light bulb "unfrosted"? I understand the meaning of "unfrost", but I don't understand how a light bulb can be unfrosted. Is this some metaphor?
meaning meaning-in-context american-english
asked 4 hours ago
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
397211
In Catch-22 there is following passage (my emphasis):
The unfrosted light bulb overhead was swinging crazily on its loose wire, and the jumbled black shadows kept swirling and bobbing chaotically, so that the entire tent seemed to be reeling.
Why is the light bulb "unfrosted"? I understand the meaning of "unfrost", but I don't understand how a light bulb can be unfrosted. Is this some metaphor?
meaning meaning-in-context american-english
meaning meaning-in-context american-english
asked 4 hours ago
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
397211
asked 4 hours ago
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
397211
asked 4 hours ago
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
397211
asked 4 hours ago
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
397211
asked 4 hours ago
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
397211
397211
4
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago
1
Most of the old-style incandescent light bulbs were "frosted" (acid-etched or something) so they gave a more "diffuse" light source. Clear glass bulbs (where you'd actually be able to see the bright glowing filament clearly) were more common even earlier (they were also cheaper, once). Hence the cited usage is "atmospheric" (it's old spooky sort of place, with a correspondingly antiquated light source). Like ghost stories are usually set in old castles, not modern apartments.
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
@HotLicks: Snap2! Can't we measure "weight, mass, gravity/gravitas" here in terms of number of words, rather than speed of response? :)
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
...anyway, I am catching up. I think you only beat me by about 30 secs this time, but it was over 45 secs last time!
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
Are you claiming that your responses are more gravid than mine?
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
4
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago
1
Most of the old-style incandescent light bulbs were "frosted" (acid-etched or something) so they gave a more "diffuse" light source. Clear glass bulbs (where you'd actually be able to see the bright glowing filament clearly) were more common even earlier (they were also cheaper, once). Hence the cited usage is "atmospheric" (it's old spooky sort of place, with a correspondingly antiquated light source). Like ghost stories are usually set in old castles, not modern apartments.
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
@HotLicks: Snap2! Can't we measure "weight, mass, gravity/gravitas" here in terms of number of words, rather than speed of response? :)
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
...anyway, I am catching up. I think you only beat me by about 30 secs this time, but it was over 45 secs last time!
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
Are you claiming that your responses are more gravid than mine?
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago
4
4
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago
1
1
Most of the old-style incandescent light bulbs were "frosted" (acid-etched or something) so they gave a more "diffuse" light source. Clear glass bulbs (where you'd actually be able to see the bright glowing filament clearly) were more common even earlier (they were also cheaper, once). Hence the cited usage is "atmospheric" (it's old spooky sort of place, with a correspondingly antiquated light source). Like ghost stories are usually set in old castles, not modern apartments.
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
Most of the old-style incandescent light bulbs were "frosted" (acid-etched or something) so they gave a more "diffuse" light source. Clear glass bulbs (where you'd actually be able to see the bright glowing filament clearly) were more common even earlier (they were also cheaper, once). Hence the cited usage is "atmospheric" (it's old spooky sort of place, with a correspondingly antiquated light source). Like ghost stories are usually set in old castles, not modern apartments.
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
@HotLicks: Snap2! Can't we measure "weight, mass, gravity/gravitas" here in terms of number of words, rather than speed of response? :)
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
@HotLicks: Snap2! Can't we measure "weight, mass, gravity/gravitas" here in terms of number of words, rather than speed of response? :)
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
...anyway, I am catching up. I think you only beat me by about 30 secs this time, but it was over 45 secs last time!
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
...anyway, I am catching up. I think you only beat me by about 30 secs this time, but it was over 45 secs last time!
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
Are you claiming that your responses are more gravid than mine?
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago
Are you claiming that your responses are more gravid than mine?
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago
|
show 6 more comments
2 Answers
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It means the light bulb that is "not frosted"? Frosted glass is translucent(semi transparent).
So maybe it refers to a clear(transparent) glass bulb where you can see the filament.
answered 3 hours ago
yenkaykayyenkaykay
361
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yenkaykay is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Source
A frosted light bulb (l) is one with a translucent white coating sprayed on the interior surface which diffuses the light. Earlier incandescent bulbs were all made of clear glass, i.e. unfrosted (r). Frosted bulbs came on the American market in the 1920s.
answered 1 hour ago
KarlGKarlG
22.2k53160
add a comment |
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It means the light bulb that is "not frosted"? Frosted glass is translucent(semi transparent).
So maybe it refers to a clear(transparent) glass bulb where you can see the filament.
answered 3 hours ago
yenkaykayyenkaykay
361
New contributor
yenkaykay is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
It means the light bulb that is "not frosted"? Frosted glass is translucent(semi transparent).
So maybe it refers to a clear(transparent) glass bulb where you can see the filament.
answered 3 hours ago
yenkaykayyenkaykay
361
New contributor
yenkaykay is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
It means the light bulb that is "not frosted"? Frosted glass is translucent(semi transparent).
So maybe it refers to a clear(transparent) glass bulb where you can see the filament.
answered 3 hours ago
yenkaykayyenkaykay
361
New contributor
yenkaykay is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
It means the light bulb that is "not frosted"? Frosted glass is translucent(semi transparent).
So maybe it refers to a clear(transparent) glass bulb where you can see the filament.
answered 3 hours ago
yenkaykayyenkaykay
361
New contributor
yenkaykay is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 3 hours ago
yenkaykayyenkaykay
361
New contributor
yenkaykay is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 3 hours ago
yenkaykayyenkaykay
361
answered 3 hours ago
yenkaykayyenkaykay
361
361
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yenkaykay is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
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Source
A frosted light bulb (l) is one with a translucent white coating sprayed on the interior surface which diffuses the light. Earlier incandescent bulbs were all made of clear glass, i.e. unfrosted (r). Frosted bulbs came on the American market in the 1920s.
answered 1 hour ago
KarlGKarlG
22.2k53160
add a comment |
Source
A frosted light bulb (l) is one with a translucent white coating sprayed on the interior surface which diffuses the light. Earlier incandescent bulbs were all made of clear glass, i.e. unfrosted (r). Frosted bulbs came on the American market in the 1920s.
answered 1 hour ago
KarlGKarlG
22.2k53160
add a comment |
Source
A frosted light bulb (l) is one with a translucent white coating sprayed on the interior surface which diffuses the light. Earlier incandescent bulbs were all made of clear glass, i.e. unfrosted (r). Frosted bulbs came on the American market in the 1920s.
answered 1 hour ago
KarlGKarlG
22.2k53160
Source
A frosted light bulb (l) is one with a translucent white coating sprayed on the interior surface which diffuses the light. Earlier incandescent bulbs were all made of clear glass, i.e. unfrosted (r). Frosted bulbs came on the American market in the 1920s.
answered 1 hour ago
KarlGKarlG
22.2k53160
answered 1 hour ago
KarlGKarlG
22.2k53160
answered 1 hour ago
KarlGKarlG
22.2k53160
answered 1 hour ago
KarlGKarlG
22.2k53160
22.2k53160
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4
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago
1
Most of the old-style incandescent light bulbs were "frosted" (acid-etched or something) so they gave a more "diffuse" light source. Clear glass bulbs (where you'd actually be able to see the bright glowing filament clearly) were more common even earlier (they were also cheaper, once). Hence the cited usage is "atmospheric" (it's old spooky sort of place, with a correspondingly antiquated light source). Like ghost stories are usually set in old castles, not modern apartments.
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
@HotLicks: Snap2! Can't we measure "weight, mass, gravity/gravitas" here in terms of number of words, rather than speed of response? :)
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
...anyway, I am catching up. I think you only beat me by about 30 secs this time, but it was over 45 secs last time!
– FumbleFingers
4 hours ago
Are you claiming that your responses are more gravid than mine?
– Hot Licks
4 hours ago