Translucent?

While the etymology supports the original meaning of "letting light through", the current meaning I have used and, as far as I am aware, others who use the word today is "letting diffuse light through": like frosted or ground glass lets light through but not a crystal clear image. Is this the meaning foreros here use today? If you have seen or used the word in, say, the last fifty years or so, has it ever meant "semi-transparent but crystal clear"?

Sony has just released a camera with a mirror call "translucent" but it is as close to crystal clear as technically possible - the camera takes pictures THROUGH it and it is described elsewhere by them as semi-transparent or partially reflective. I think we have just lost a very useful word ...

[/rant]

I always contrasted translucent with transparent. To me, a translucent material allows one to perceive outlines, grosser details, colors. I suppose an argument could be made that everything, even translucence, lies on the "semi-transparent" spectrum between transparency and opacity.

Indeed, once one starts to analyse things, one can make a range of arguments. To me, a key element of translucent was the loss of fine details, the frostiness if you like. However we got there, the distinction between translucent and transparent came to be useful (akin to television and telescope meaning different things while having similar etymology). I was asking more about current (or at least recent 👁 Frown :(
) usage, of the distinction you also have always seen as a contrast.

I've always understood the difference to be that something 'transparent' allows you to see undistorted images through it, while something 'translucent' allows light to pass through, but not clear images.

Where I come from, we have transparent glass in most windows, but translucent glass in the bathroom windows.
.

Thanks Rival - I think that's a very common distinction people have made for quite a long time.