A Pet Peeve... Anyone else?

[nwcronauer1242]

Maybe it's because I do electrical and lighting design, but it tends to drive me crazy sometimes when I see people talk about the "bulbs" that they are using. I know I'm likely in the minority here, but a bulb is something that you plant.

So here is my terminology lesson of the day. Feel free to let the stones fly now, but thanks for taking the time to read my mini-rant!

Bulb = Something you plant.

Lamp = 1) Light Source
2) From the IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America)
-A generic term for a source created to produce optical radiation.

Housing = Components in which Lamps are installed.

Light Fixture = Housing, lamps, and electrical components required
to energize and illuminate the lamps combined in a nice pretty
little package (well some of our DIY may not be pretty but
but they sure do make our corals look pretty )

I feel so much better now. :dance::rollface:

Oh and if this annoyed you, I sincerely apologize. It is not my intention to offend or upset anyone.

 

[Seahorse NJRC]

bulb (blb)
n.
1. Botany
a. A short, modified, underground stem surrounded by usually fleshy modified leaves that contain stored food for the shoot within: an onion bulb; a tulip bulb.
b. A similar underground stem or root, such as a corm, rhizome, or tuber.
c. A plant that grows from a bulb.
2. A rounded projection or part: the bulb of a syringe.
3. An incandescent lamp or its glass housing.
4. Anatomy A rounded dilation or expansion of a canal, vessel, or organ.

Bulb has definitions not related to botany.

 

[cubsFAN]

bulb (blb)
n.
1. Botany
a. A short, modified, underground stem surrounded by usually fleshy modified leaves that contain stored food for the shoot within: an onion bulb; a tulip bulb.
b. A similar underground stem or root, such as a corm, rhizome, or tuber.
c. A plant that grows from a bulb.
2. A rounded projection or part: the bulb of a syringe.
3. An incandescent lamp or its glass housing.
4. Anatomy A rounded dilation or expansion of a canal, vessel, or organ.

Bulb has definitions not related to botany.

Maybe it was because I was an English major in college...

Thanks gemmy! I feel much better now.

 

[EricSIny]

a little fun fact for ya..we call it a bulb because the shape resembles a plant bulb. :fun4:

i too fall into the 99.8% of people who call it a "bulb"

however i knew none of this untill i read your thread and googled "why we call it a bulb and not lamp"

 

[nwcronauer1242]

Maybe it was because I was an English major in college...

Thanks gemmy! I feel much better now.

Funny thing is, I was in college to be an English teacher. :lmao: somehow I wound up in an engineering office...

Maybe I should tap back into my college days :dance: before posting again Either way, at least we are all learning!

 

[Playa-1]

Ironically when I think of lamp, I think of the the table lamps that sit on the end tables. A light bulb doesn't come to mind when the word lamp is mentioned. If you do a google image search for lamp then the overwhelming majority of the pics that pop up are table top lamps.