Lewis & Short

lŭcerna, ae, f. [luc-erna, from luceo, q. v.; with double suffix like caverna, laverna, lanterna, etc.; cf. Gr. κέ-αρνον, σκέπαρνον], a lamp, oil-lamp.

  1. I. Lit.: lucerna dicta a luce, aut quod id vocant Graeci λύχνον, Varr. L. L. 5, § 119 Müll.: lucernam forte oblitus fueram extinguere, Plaut. Most. 2, 2, 56: in sole lucernam adhibere nihil interest, Cic. Fin. 4, 12, 29: lucerna me deserit, my light goes out, id. Att. 7, 7, 7: vino et lucernis Medus acinaces Immane quantum discrepat, i. e. evening entertainments, Hor. C. 1, 27, 5: accedit numerus lucernis, the lights begin to seem double, id. S. 2, 1, 25; cf.: cum geminis exsurgit mensa lucernis, Juv. 6, 305: pereundum est ante lucernas, before candle-light, id. 10, 339: lucernam accendere, Phaedr. 3, 19, 4: turpis fumo lucernae, Juv. 6, 131: lucerna ardens exstinguitur, Plin. 31, 3, 28, § 49: fungi lucernarum, id. 28, 11, 46, § 163: pinguem nebulam vomuere lucernae, Pers. 5, 181: lucerna splendens super candelabrum, Vulg. Sir. 26, 22.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. Nocturnal labor, lucubration (poet.): haec ego non credam Venusina digna Lucerna? Juv. 1, 51.
    2. B. A guide, instructor: quia mandatum lucerna est, Vulg. Prov. 6, 23; id. 2 Sam. 2, 29: lucerna pedibus meis verbum tuum, id. Psa. 118, 105.
    3. C. A phosphorescent fish, Plin. 9, 27, 43, § 82.