noun
eaves lantern
Obsolete term for a lantern hung from the eaves of a building, used in pre-modern Japan.
江戸時代の町家では、軒明かりが夜の通りを照らしていた。
In Edo-period townhouses, eaves lanterns lit the streets at night.
行灯 is a portable paper lantern, while 軒明かり specifically refers to a lantern hung from the eaves.
Compound of 軒 (のき, 'eaves') and 明かり (あかり, 'light'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term describes a light source attached to the eaves.