Wondering about the British term "torch" and what users of the word think of "flashli

Andrewr05

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Oct 15, 2008
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Perkinsville, VT
I've always wondered about the British term torch used for what us Americans call a flashlight.



I recently had it described to be that flashlight refers to a signaling device.



To me (an American) an electric torch would be a lantern as in my opinion a torch radiates light outward and is not a directional lightsource.



Now don't get me wrong I don't think FLASHlight makes a whole lot of sense either but torch just doesn't definitionally fit.





Now a word like beamlight seems like it would have made a lot more sense to use as it implies botha source of light and that it is output in a single beam rather than radiated outwards like a wooden/metal torch or a lantern.







Thoughts?
 
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