Lampions

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Decorative lanterns typically made of paper and illuminated from within, used during celebrations or festivals ; small, often colorful light sources suspended for ornamental purposes in various cultural events ; lightweight, glowing fixtures providing ambient light and embellishing outdoor or indoor gatherings
2. Illuminated ornamental covers, usually crafted from paper or fabric, designed to hang during festive occasions ; portable frame-based lights used to brighten and decorate spaces during parties or ceremonies ; colorful, translucent containers that glow when lit, adding charm and mood to social festivities
3. Traditional glowing containers often hung in rows at special occasions ; decorative apparatus emitting soft light, generally made from translucent materials for aesthetic effect ; cultural symbols of festivity producing warm illumination to enhance celebratory settings

Etymology: "Lampions" is the plural of "lampion", a paper or fabric lantern lit from within and strung up for festivals and garden parties. The singular came into English from French, where "lampion" was itself borrowed from Italian "lampione", a large lamp or street lantern. That Italian word is an augmentative built on "lampa", meaning lamp, which traces back to Greek "lampas", a torch or light. So the lantern's name is essentially a bigger lamp, the Italian suffix turning a simple light into something grander. Although the root is ancient, the English word is a relatively late arrival, borrowed through French to describe a decorative lantern rather than a practical lamp. The "-s" ending marks the plural, as in several lanterns or many such lights.

Synonyms: lanterns, lights, illuminations, torches