lŭcerna (noun F) : luc-erna, from luceo, q. v.; with double suffix like caverna, laverna, lanterna, etc.; cf. Gr. κέ-αρνον, σκέπαρνον
* A lamp, oil-lamp.
* 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.
* Transf.
* Nocturnal labor, lucubration (poet.): haec ego non credam Venusina digna Lucerna?Juv. 1, 51.
* 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.
* A phosphorescent fish, Plin. 9, 27, 43, § 82.

s. TLL