deadlight

[ ded-lahyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Nautical.

a strong shutter able to be screwed against the interior of a porthole in heavy weather.
a thick pane of glass set in the hull or deck to admit light. lights.

deadlight

/ ˈdɛdˌlaɪt /

nautical
1. a bull's-eye let into the deck or hull of a vessel to admit light to a cabin
2. a shutter of wood or metal for sealing off a porthole or cabin window
a skylight designed not to be opened

First recorded in 1720–30; dead + light ¹

It was hot in the room, and rather dark, as the deadlight to the poop-deck was fogged by sea water.

Then I flooded the boat rapidly through the deadlight till the water came to the level of the coaming.

Remembering his embarrassment of the morning, Denman did not seek the deck, but looked through his deadlight.

Then he entered an opposite room—all were unlocked now—from which, slantingly through the deadlight, he saw lights.

Foster remained, moodily staring through the deadlight, while the other two went forward.

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