[f. LIGHT sb.: see HOUSE sb.1 2.] A tower or other structure, with a powerful light or lights (originally a beacon) at the top, erected at some important or dangerous point on or near the sea-coast for the guidance of mariners. (The earlier name was pharos.)
1622. Bacon, Hist. Hen. VII., 142. They … were executed … at diuers places vpon the Sea-Coast … for Sea-markes or Light-houses, to teach Perkins People to auoid the Coast.
1662–3. Marvell, Corr., xxxvii. Wks. 1872–5, II. 83. I have herewith sent you an account of your expenses about the Light-house.
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3971/3. The Light-House upon the Edistone was blown down. Ibid. (1708), No 4459/4. The 28th of July last, a Light was placed on the Light-House, Rebuilt on the Edistone-Rock off Plimouth.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., III. 167. In approaching from Turin, we pass along the seaside to the immense lighthouse.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh (1857), 56. Perhaps I darkened, as the light-house will That turns upon the sea.
b. attrib. and Comb., as lighthouse-keeper, service, -top, -tower.
1672. Evelyn, Diary, 14 May. From the North Foreland Light-house-top … we could see our fleete.
1798. Coleridge, Anc. Mar., VI. xiv. Is this indeed The light-house top I see?
1831. Scott, Pirate, Introd. The author was invited to join a party of Commissioners for the Northern Light-House Service.
1851. Kingsley, Three Fishers, ii. Three wives sat up in the lighthouse tower.
1866. Carlyle, Remin. (1881), I. 112. Lighthouse-keeper too in another sphere of enquiry was to me quite new; by far the most life-weary looking mortal I ever saw.
