Forms: α. 6 lucane, -ayne, 8 lucerne, 9 lucarne. (See also LUTHERN.) β. corruptly 6–7 (?) leucomb, lucombe (Arch. Publ. Soc. Dict.), 7 lucome, luke-home, 9 dial. lucam, lewcome. (See also E. D. D.) [a. OF. lucane, mod.F. lucarne, of obscure origin; cf. OF. lucquet of similar meaning.
Some scholars have suggested OHG. lukkâ opening (mod.G. lücke cavity, gap) as the source. Diez’ proposal to connect the word with L. lucerna (see LUCERNE1) is untenable.]
An opening made in a roof to let in the light; a skylight, a dormer or garret window. (Now only as Fr.) Also lucarne window.
In quot. 1792 the word appears to be misused.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 97. Great towers embattailed and vauted with lopes Lucanes like Masonry.
1554. Acc. Rolls Durham Castle, 3 Nov. (Parker, Gloss. Archit.). For ij dayes & dim. in mendyng of the gret Lucayne, in the gallere and lying of fyletts.
1565. Jewell, Def. Apol. (1611), 523. Hanged by the necke, out of a great Lucane window into the street.
1631. Cornwallis, Ess., II. xlvii. 296. Many entries, landing places, and Lucomes.
1657. Reeve, God’s Plea, 124. A dozen casements above, and two wide luke-homes below.
1792. Burns, Lett. to W. Nicol, 20 Feb. I look up to thee, as doth a toad through the iron-barred lucerne of a pestiferous dungeon, to the cloudless glory of a summer sun!
1823. E. Moor, Suffolk Words, 212. Lewcome, a window projecting in the roof, generally a ‘Lewcome window,’ but the word is applied to the gable end of a house.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Lucam.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, xi. 187. The lucarne windows from which she saw the reek of the burning camp.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, I. 611. That grey roof, with the range of lucarnes.
