Definitions

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One who labors at night and sleeps in the day.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a person who works or labors at night and sleeps during the day.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Ancient Greek λύχνος ("lamp") and βίος ("life").

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Examples

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Comments

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  • One who labors at night and sleeps in the day.

    October 10, 2007

  • Tremendous! Wordie is on fire tonight, this is like the fourth fantastic word that's shown up this hour that I'd never heard before.

    I particularly like this word, since I am one. Maybe I should join the Lychnobite Angling Society:

    "The Society was established in October 1893 at "The Times" newspaper offices, Printing House Square, EC4, the first members being night print workers. It was mainly the nocturnal nature of this work that really inspired the Society's name - Lychnobite - one who sleeps by day and works by night, adapted from the Greek - Lychnos - a lamp."

    October 10, 2007

  • The etymology is directly from "lamp-life", which is pretty cool.

    October 10, 2007

  • Great word, indeed. Is there one for someone who labors at night and during the day? ;-)

    October 10, 2007

  • Actually, there are several:

    resident

    undergrad (but only during exam time)

    mom

    October 11, 2007

  • Touché. But you forgot overworked editor. ;-)

    October 11, 2007

  • Many military and airline pilots fit this word.

    July 14, 2010