Why is a flashlight called a flashlight ?

[Pretbek]

It is the same thing in Norway "lommelykt": lomme-pocket and lykt-lamp.

But we Europeans aren't flashers

Sverre

"Zaklamp" in Dutch: pocketlamp. No flashing going on.

My avatar is the British version.
Uses hydrocarbon based cells, nice warm floody beam, not much throw though, without a reflector.

 

[dudemar]

This turned out to be an interesting thread about saying "flashlight" in different languages. In Japanese it's 懐中電灯 (kaichu-dento), which is roughly translated to pocket lamp. Getting technical with the kanji it's pocket electric lamp. It's also the name of a CPF member.

In Chinese it's 手電筒, which is roughly translated to hand electric tube.

 

[gadget_lover]

I guess if we wanted to get pedantic about it, we can't call it a "light", since it is really a light generator.

I think "dark chaser" is a much better name for it.


Daniel