Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A small flashlight having the size and shape of a fountain pen.

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

  • noun A small flashlight resembling a fountain pen, often having a clip to permit firm attachment to a pocket.

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

  • noun a small torch / flashlight that resembles a fountain pen

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a small flashlight resembling a fountain pen

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word penlight.

Examples

  • "They would zip you up, put your cotton tail on and then you'd put on the collar and cuffs with the cufflinks facing a certain direction—don't ask me which—with your penlight hooked on the right so you could flash it to see the customer's club card," said Michele Dawn, now a licensed private investigator in California, who began her Bunny career when she turned 21 in 1965.

    The Bunny Is Back Thomas Vinciguerra 2011

  • At that moment, the “bodyguards” each clicked on a tiny but powerful penlight.

    Day of Honey Annia Ciezadlo 2011

  • At that moment, the “bodyguards” each clicked on a tiny but powerful penlight.

    Day of Honey Annia Ciezadlo 2011

  • The cameraman shone a penlight into the camera to check for dust on the film.

    Unbearable Lightness Portia de Rossi 2010

  • I shined the penlight at the airspeed indicator, 75mph, then at the artificial horizon to make sure my wings were level, and that I was not climbing or descending, then at the GPS for my course line.

    CUBA: FIVE DAYS ON THE CHEAP, FREE CELL, FREE GUARD DOG, FREE GUARD 2010

  • He flicked on the penlight he kept on his keychain and the bluish beam illuminated the name “Lady” and “3463 Belmont Street” and below that, a phone number.

    The Dog 2010

  • The doctor, a third-year resident, flashes his penlight; her lids flutter in response.

    The Dying Tradition 2010

  • She had a small penlight that she clicked on and held it in front of my face.

    Haunted Honeymoon Marta Acosta 2010

  • About the time I was realizing this, the doctor removed a penlight from his shirt pocket, and began scanning the panel with it.

    CUBA: FIVE DAYS ON THE CHEAP, FREE CELL, FREE GUARD DOG, FREE GUARD 2010

  • I woke him to get his penlight, because in the three or four seconds I'd been Pilot in Command, I'd realized three or four very unsettling situations that I'd not previously been fully cognizant of.

    CUBA: FIVE DAYS ON THE CHEAP, FREE CELL, FREE GUARD DOG, FREE GUARD 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.