What is the origin of 'sleep tight'?
Read moreOne of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
plural noun
English Lawtreated as singular The right of access to light of a property, established by custom and used to prevent the construction of buildings on adjacent property which would obstruct such access.
- ‘On the other hand, the Court ought to be very careful not to allow an action for the protection of ancient lights to be used as a means of extorting money.’
- ‘Tom associates England with ‘ancient lights’, a phrase that for him resonates with the mythic and the mystic.’
- ‘Thus, it is regarded from this account that the first lightstructures could be described as ` fire-towers’ and, indeed, many ancient lights are referred to with this term.’
- ‘The very settled approach in the United States is to reject such claims (England has a doctrine of ancient lights which was firmly rejected here).’
Origin
Mid 18th century: from lights meaning ‘light from the sky’. In England the sign ‘Ancient Lights’ was often placed on a house, adjacent to a site where a high building might be erected.
