noun
portable paper lantern for walking at night
Historical term for a small, handheld paper lantern used to light one's way outdoors after dark. Now mostly encountered in period literature or descriptions of old customs.
江戸時代には、夜道を歩くときに有明行灯を持ち歩いた。
In the Edo period, people carried a portable paper lantern when walking at night.
提灯 is a general term for a paper lantern, often collapsible and hung or carried. 有明行灯 specifically refers to a small, portable lantern for walking at night, a subtype of 提灯.
Compound of 有明 (ありあけ, 'dawn' or 'still dark before dawn') and 行灯 (あんどん, 'paper lantern'). The name likely refers to a lantern used in the early morning darkness or one that remains lit until dawn. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.