Forms: (5 lightor, 6 -ur), 6 lyghter, 6–8 lyter, 7 liter, 7–8 leighter, loiter, (7 loyter), 5– lighter. [f. LIGHT v.1 (sense 2) + -ER1, or ad. Du. lichter of equivalent formation.] A boat or vessel, usually a flat-bottomed barge, used in lightening or unloading (sometimes loading) ships that cannot be discharged (or loaded) at a wharf, etc., and for transporting goods of any kind, usually in a harbor.
1487. in Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 113. R. A. shall haue free choise … for the said tonne wyne to be taken in the lighter at his plesur.
1545. in R. G. Marsden, Sel. Pl. Crt. Adm., I. (1894), 137. Suche goodes wares or merchandises which is [laden] into any suche lyghter or lyghters to thintent to cary the same … from land aborde any shyppe or from borde any shippe to land.
1634. W. Wood, New Eng. Prosp. (1865), 47. These flatts make it unnavigable for shippes, yet at high water great Boates, Loiters, and Pinnaces of 20, and 30 tun, may saile up to the plantation.
1728. Pope, Dunc., II. 275. He said, and climb’d a stranded Lighter’s height.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., V. i. (1869), II. 307. The lighters which sail upon a navigable canal.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 2. Barges, lighters, and other boats are thus enabled … to float up or down the river.
transf. 1831. Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. To Shade of Elliston. What tearing off of histrionic robes … before the surly Ferryman will admit you to set a foot within his battered lighter.
b. attrib. and Comb., as lighter-boat, -builder, -master. Also LIGHTERMAN.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, IV. ii. (1611), 216. He beareth or a lighter boat in fesse gules.
1638. Plymouth Col. Rec. (1855), I. 94. The leighter master shall haue tenn shillings for his man & his leighter for xxiiij howers.
1640. in T. Lechford’s Note-Bk. (1885), 375. One Lighter boate of the burthen of twenty tunnes.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1754), 112. Lighter-builders [were] idle, and laid by.
