corposant
- noun
- /ˈkɔːrpəˌsænt/
- Archaic
- The phenomenon of corposant is most likely to appear during intense electrical weather at sea.
Examples
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As the storm approached, a blue corposant glowed eerily on the ship’s mast.
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Sailors once believed a corposant was a sign of the saint’s protection during storms.
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The ship's mast was adorned with a bright corposant during the storm.
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Many sailors believe that a corposant brings good luck.
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As the storm approached, a blue corposant glowed eerily on the ship’s mast.
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Sailors once believed a corposant was a sign of the saint’s protection during storms.
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The phenomenon of corposant is often observed on ships during intense electrical weather.
Synonyms
29
6.9
A sudden flow of electricity that makes light or sparks
2
4.2
A sudden flow of electricity that makes a spark or flash
1
9.9
A blue glow that appears on pointed objects like ship masts or airplane wings during thunderstorms
1
5.2
A flow of electricity through a gas that makes light or a spark
1
8.2
A faint glow of electricity around a high-voltage wire
1
7.9
A faint glow around a high-voltage wire when the air becomes charged
1
6.2
A faint light that appears when electricity passes through air, like on antennas or wires
1
9.9
A blue or violet glow that appears on pointed objects during storms
A blue or purple light that appears on pointed objects like ship masts during storms
A bluish purple glow that appears on pointed metal parts like ship masts or airplane wings during storms
A faint blue glow that appears on ship masts or airplane wings during storms caused by electricity in the air
Surface Forms
Etymology
Corposant comes from sailors who linked the strange glowing light to a saint; it likely comes from Italian words corpo 'body' and santo 'holy', or from the name St. Elmo. So, calling that electric glow a corposant is like saying it was a 'holy body' or the saint's protective fire on a ship.