■ noun
1》 Brit. a portable battery-powered electric lamp.
2》 chiefly historical a portable means of illumination such as a piece of wood soaked in tallow and ignited.
3》 a valuable quality, principle, or cause, which needs to be protected and maintained: Britain could carry the ~ of freedom.
4》 chiefly N. Amer. a blowlamp.
■ verb informal set fire to.
Phrases
carry a ~ for suffer from unrequited love for.
put to the ~ (or put a ~ to ) destroy by burning.
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~e , from L. torqua , var. of torques 'necklace, wreath', from torquere 'to twist'.