searchlight
n.a very bright light that can be moved to look for things in the dark. It is often used by police, ships, or at large events.
n.a powerful, narrow beam of light produced by a large lamp and a parabolic mirror, used for illumination or signaling. Often used metaphorically to describe intense public or media scrutiny.
“The searchlight swept across the field in the dark.”
“The lighthouse keeper used a searchlight to signal the approaching ship through the thick fog.”
“The scandal was brought into the public searchlight after the journalist published the leaked documents, forcing the politician to resign from the committee.”
“Early automotive lamps were less like searchlights and more like dim lanterns politely suggesting that there may or may not be a vehicle present.”
From search + light. Compare West Frisian sykljocht (“searchlight”), Dutch zoeklicht (“searchlight”), Danish søgelys (“searchlight”), Swedish sökarljus (“searchlight”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.