corposant
- noun
- /ˈkɔːrpəˌsænt/
- Archaic
:
fuego de San Elmo
- 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
36
6.9
A sudden flow of electricity that makes light or sparks
1
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
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
A faint light that appears when electricity passes through air, like on antennas or wires
A faint glow around a high-voltage wire when the air becomes charged
A faint glow of electricity around a high-voltage wire
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.