English

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Etymology

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Named after Edward W Very, a 19th-century US naval officer.

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈvɛɹi lʌɪt/
  • Hyphenation: Very light

Noun

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Very light (plural Very lights)

  1. A type of pyrotechnic flare used as a signal or temporary illumination.
    • 1974, John Le Carré, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Folio Society, published 2009, pages 266–7:
      Flares exploded, Very lights went up, even tracer, and as Jim raced the Fiat down the track he had the impression of leaving a military tattoo at its climax.

Hypernyms

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