suddenly appear in the sky, usually at a great hight above the earth, and shoot through the heavens with immense velocity. (Bol'-i-des, pl. of βολις [bolis], a dart.)
Note.—Shooting Stars sometimes consist of small bodies of solid matter moving through space, and approaching so near the earth as to become visible. That some shooting stars are solid, is known from the fact, that they sometimes burst in the atmosphere with a loud explosion, when either a portion or the whole of the meteor falls to the earth in the form of a shower of stones, called meteoric stones.
At other times, a shooting star or fireball consists of a body of light, vapory matter precipitated from the regions of space into the atmosphere, where it is ignited by friction, and is consumed or dissipated before it can reach the ground. The grandest display of meteors of this kind on record, was witnessed in North America, on the morning of the 13th of November, 1833. The appearance presented was that of an uninterrupted shower of fire, which continued for several hours. These meteors are supposed to have had their origin in a small comet or planetoid, which happened at that time to come within a few thousand miles of the earth.
A third class of fireballs have their origin in the atmosphere, and are either electrical, or consist of collections of phosphorescent matter.
The Will-o'-the-Wisp, Will-with-a-Wisp or Will-a-Wisp, is a luminous vapor seen at night in marshes and graveyards.
Note.—This meteor consists of phosphorescent matter evolved from decaying animal and vegetable substances. (Wisp, a small bundle of lighted straw, and Will, the name of the fellow that carries it.
Jack-with-a-Lantern, is the brother of Will-o'-the-Wisp.
Note.—Jack and Will are both naughty boys who delight in frightening the ignorant, and in leading bewildered nightfarers a long chase over bogs and ditches.
Will-a-Wisp misleads nightfaring clowns
O'er hills and sinking bogs.—Gay.
Ignis Fatuus (plural, ignes fatui,) is a Latin designation of the meteor called the Will-o'-the-Wisp. (Ignis, fire; and fatuus, unreal.)
Twilight is the faint light which is reflected upon the earth before sunrise and after sunset. (Twi., doubtful.)
Dawn is the morning twilight. Fig., the beginning; as, the dawn of reason in the mind of a child.
An Aurora or Polar Light, is a luminous appearance of the sky at night, commonly seen in the direction of the pole that is nearest to the observer, and resembling the illumination of the east which precedes the rising of the sun. (L., aurora, the dawn)
Auroral, pertaining to the polar lights.
Aurora Borealis, the north polar lights. (L., borealis, northern.)
Aurora Australis, the south polar lights. (L., australis, southern.)
Northern Lights, the common English name of the northern aurora.
Note.—Auroral light is supposed to be caused by the action of electricity.
The Zodiacal Light is a faint, nebulous (cloudy) aurora which accompanies the sun. It has a flat lenticular (bean-shaped) form, with the sun in the middle, and is visible shortly before sunrise and soon after sunset, extending obliquely upward.
Note.—Sir John Herschell conjectures that this light consists of the same kind of matter that constitutes the tail of comets. (Called zodiacal, because situated in the zodiac. See Art. Astronomy.)
2. Artificial Luminaries.
A Candle is a cylinder of tallow or wax, with a portion of cotton thread, called the wick, running lengthwise through the middle.
A Lamp is a small vessel in which oil or some other liquid is burned for the production of light.
A Taper is a small wax candle.
A Rushlight is a very small and feeble light, produced by burning a rush which has been dipped in tallow.
Note.—The rushlight is chiefly used in sick chambers.
A Flambeau is a luminary having usually several branches, which consist of very large wicks covered with wax or tallow.
Note.—Flambeaus are used in the streets at night, at illuminations, and in processions. (Fr., flamme, a flame; and beau, beautiful.)
A Torch is a large blazing light borne in the hand.
A Candlestick is a utensil for holding a candle.
A Chandelier is a frame with branches for lights.
