Limelight

Limelight
   , DRUMMOND LIGHT
   Thomas Drummond (1797-1840) invented the first "limelight" in 1816 and it later became essential theatrical equipment. The so-called Drummond light emitted a powerful beam that could be concentrated on one part of the stage. The person in its glare was said to be in the limelight, a pithy way of saying that someone is in the full glare of public attention or notoriety or, to borrow a theatrical term, is "center stage." This vivid light is a combination of oxygen and hydrogen on a surface of lime or, more simply, calcium oxide, which has a brilliant luminosity when incandescent.
   Drummond invented his light for lighthouses. Sometime after Drummond's death, the limelight came to be used extensively in theaters and remained their main source for prominent lighting for many years.

Dictionary of eponyms. . 2013.

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  • limelight — lime light , n. (Theat.) That part of the stage upon which the limelight is cast, usually where the most important action is progressing or where the leading player or players are placed and upon which the attention of the spectators is therefore …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Limelight — ist der englische Name für Rampenlicht in der übertragenen Bedeutung des Wortes, den Film Rampenlicht, das auch als Bühnenbeleuchtung verwendete Drummondsche Licht sowie der Name einer britischen Heavy Metal Band. Außerdem ist das Limelight ein… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • limelight — ► NOUN 1) (the limelight) the focus of public attention. 2) an intense white light produced by heating lime in an oxyhydrogen flame, formerly used in theatres …   English terms dictionary

  • limelight — [līm′līt΄] n. 1. a brilliant light created by the incandescence of lime, formerly used in theaters to throw an intense beam of light upon a particular part of the stage, a certain actor, etc. 2. the part of a stage where a limelight or spotlight… …   English World dictionary

  • limelight — index publicity Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • limelight — 1826, popular name for DRUMMOND LIGHT (Cf. Drummond light), a brilliant light created by the incandescence of LIME (Cf. lime) (n.1); adopted for lighthouses and later for the Victorian stage, where it illuminated the principal actors, hence the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • limelight — [n] public attention eminence, exposure, fifteen minutes of fame*, focus of attention, glare, hype*, media attention, photo opportunity, prominence, public eye, public interest, public notice, public recognition, renown, spotlight; concept 261… …   New thesaurus

  • Limelight — For other uses, see Limelight (disambiguation) …   Wikipedia

  • limelight — noun VERB + LIMELIGHT ▪ grab, hog, steal ▪ She accused her co star of trying to hog the limelight. ▪ enjoy ▪ seek ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

  • limelight — limelighter, n. /luym luyt /, n. 1. Theat. a. (formerly) a lighting unit for spotlighting the front of the stage, producing illumination by means of a flame of mixed gases directed at a cylinder of lime and having a special lens for concentrating …   Universalium

  • Limelight — Luz de escenario. El Limelight es un tipo de luz de escenario, que se utilizó en teatros y escenarios musicales en el siglo XIX. Funciona cuando una llama de oxihidrógeno se proyecta sobre una malla cilíndrica de cal viva (óxido de calcio),[1] …   Wikipedia Español

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