The term does indeed refer to 19th century home lighting, but the origin of the modern usage is from a 1940’s film called Gaslight.
In the film, the husband secretly rummages through the attic and his activities up there causes the pressure in the gas lines to drop causing the lights throughout the house to dim.
When the wife would mention the dimming lights to the husband, he convinced her that the lights weren’t dimming and manipulated her into thinking she was going insane for seeing things.
The term does indeed refer to 19th century home lighting, but the origin of the modern usage is from a 1940’s film called Gaslight.
In the film, the husband secretly rummages through the attic and his activities up there causes the pressure in the gas lines to drop causing the lights throughout the house to dim.
When the wife would mention the dimming lights to the husband, he convinced her that the lights weren’t dimming and manipulated her into thinking she was going insane for seeing things.
Yep. Excellent film too.
no it doesn’t. you’re imagining that film.