lighter

Definitions

Two unrelated -er nouns. The flame lighter = 'thing that lights' (from light = ignite). The cargo lighter = 'thing that lightens a ship' — small boats that took weight off a big ship in shallow harbors. One -er suffix, both branches of light, two completely different objects.

Why It Means This

A neat double word: a lighter lights a flame (brightness/fire branch) but a lighter also lightens a ship (weight branch). The boat sense is now mostly nautical/historical, but it's a perfect snapshot of how the two lights live side by side.

Common Collocations

• 1.cigarette lighter香烟打火机
• 2.lighter fluid打火机燃料
• 3.a disposable lighter一次性打火机

Example Sentences

• 1.

  He pulled out a lighter and lit his cigarette.

• 2.

  Cargo was carried ashore on a lighter when the dock was too shallow.

• 3.

  Do you have a lighter? My matches got wet.