ignis fatuus
[ ig-nis fach-oo-uh s ]
/ ˈɪg nɪs ˈfætʃ u əs /
noun, plural ig·nes fat·u·i [ig-neez fach-oo-ahy] /ˈɪg niz ˈfætʃ uˌaɪ/.
Also called friar's lantern, will-o'-the-wisp.
a flitting phosphorescent light seen at night, chiefly over marshy ground, and believed to be due to spontaneous combustion of gas from decomposed organic matter.
something deluding or misleading.
Origin of ignis fatuus
1555–65; < Medieval Latin: literally, foolish fire
Words nearby ignis fatuus
igneous,
igneous rock,
ignescent,
ignimbrite,
ignipuncture,
ignis fatuus,
ignite,
igniter,
ignition,
ignition coil,
ignition interlock
Example sentences from the Web for ignis fatuus
British Dictionary definitions for ignis fatuus
ignis fatuus
/ (ˈɪɡnɪs ˈfætjʊəs) /
noun plural ignes fatui (ˈɪɡniːz ˈfætjʊˌaɪ)
another name for will-o'-the-wisp
Word Origin for ignis fatuus
C16: from Medieval Latin, literally: foolish fire