something inclosing a light, and protecting it from wind, rain, etc. ; -- sometimes portable, as a closed vessel or case of horn, perforated tin, glass, oiled paper, or other material, having a lamp or candle within; sometimes fixed, as the glazed inclosure of a street light, or of a lighthouse light.-an open structure of light material set upon a roof, to give light and air to the interior.-a cage or open chamber of rich architecture, open below into the building or tower which it crowns.-a smaller and secondary cupola crowning a larger one, for ornament, or to admit light; such as the lantern of the cupola of the capitol at washington, or that of the florence cathedral.-a lantern pinion or trundle wheel. see lantern pinion (below).-a kind of cage inserted in a stuffing box and surrounding a piston rod, to separate the packing into two parts and form a chamber between for the reception of steam, etc. ; -- called also lantern brass.-a perforated barrel to form a core upon.-see aristotle's lantern.-to furnish with a lantern; as, to lantern a lighthouse.