Source for not referring to Chanuka lights as a "menora"

Following up on this question about the use of the words "menora" or "chanukiya" to refer to Chanuka lights:

I find it interesting that the use of "chanukiya," popularized in 1897 through a secular lexicographic effort, seems to embody a distinction that is religiously valuable: between the seven-branched Menora in the Temple and the eight-(plus one)-part Chanuka lights, which are in different categories of holiness and uniqueness. This distinction would seem to be of a similar spirit to a practice I've seen¹ of lit models of the Menora in contemporary synagogues specifically not having seven lights, apparently so as not to be confused with the original Menora.

• Are there any religious sources from before the coinage of "chanukiya" that indicate a preference for not referring to Chanuka lights as a "menora"?

• Are there any religious sources from after the coinage of "chanukiya" that indicate a preference for specifically using "chanukiya" rather than "menora" to refer to Chanuka lights?

^{1. Consistent with the Rambam in Beit Habechira 7:10 (thanks to DoubleAA for the source):}

ואסור לאדם שיעשה בית תבנית היכל. אכסדרא תבנית אולם. חצר כנגד העזרה. שולחן בצורת שולחן. ומנורה בצורת מנורה. אבל עושה הוא מנורה של חמשה קנים או של שמונה קנים או מנורה שאינה של מתכת אע"פ שיש לה שבעה קנים

posted almost 12 years ago

Isaac Moses‭

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