An oxycalcium light is referred to as a “limelight.” As a result of the widespread use of oxycalcium lights in theaters when they were first introduced, it is also used to refer to someone who is in the public eye. Actors and public officials are frequently described as being in the spotlight, particularly when they are facing widespread public criticism. The term “limes” refers to the historical significance of oxycalcium lights in the theater. In most cases, the context reveals the word’s intended meaning.
By directing two jets of oxygen and hydrogen at a ball, disc, or rod of calcium oxide, also known as lime, a man named Goldsworthy Gurney discovered a new form of lighting in the 1820s. The gas jets were ignited, and the calcium oxide was heated to the point where it began to emit a bright white light. Thomas Drummond, who is sometimes mistakenly credited with inventing the limelight, picked up the idea. The operation of most modern lightbulbs is based on the principle of heating a material until it emits light, also known as incandescence.
Drummond recognized that limelight illumination systems could be used for a variety of purposes. The light could be used on lighthouses and for other outdoor work such as surveying because of its high visibility. It could also be used indoors, and theatres quickly adopted it because of how well it lit up the stage. Actors and actresses would compete for stage positions in order to be in the spotlight, brightly lit and visible to the audience.
The phrase “in the limelight” entered popular slang and quickly became a catchphrase for anyone who was in the public eye. Celebrities, politicians, public officials, and others are frequently subjected to a level of scrutiny that is almost unbearable. They are said to be in the spotlight because the scrutiny resembles a blinding white light, exposing all flaws in character and behavior. Not everyone can withstand the stress of a thorough examination.
Although oxycalcium lights are no longer used in theaters, the limelight and limes remain part of the rich cultural tradition of theatrical performance. Most stage and screen actors and actresses are familiar with the term and enjoy being in the bright light of a spotlight, or lime. Because of the implied romance of acting in the 19th century, when limelights were widely used in theatres, the limelight is most closely associated with theatrical performances.