Definition of corposants Corposants

We found 3 definitions of corposants from 2 different sources.

What does corposants mean?

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Noun
corposant - an electrical discharge accompanied by ionization of surrounding atmosphere
		corona discharge, corona, St. Elmo's fire, Saint Elmo's fire, Saint Elmo's light, Saint Ulmo's fire, Saint Ulmo's light, electric glow

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corposant (Noun)
An electrical discharge accompanied by a corona of ionization in the surrounding atmosphere.

corposant
kor′po-zant, n. St Elmo's fire, a ball of fire sometimes seen about a ship during a storm. [Port.,—L. corpus sanctum, holy body.]

corposant
feu St. Elme (corpo santo, Ital.), a sort of volatile meteor, or ignis fatuus, often beheld in a dark and tempestuous night about the decks or rigging of a ship, but particularly at the extremities, as the mast-heads, and yard arms: it is most frequent in heavy rain, accompanied with lightning. “They usually wander with uncertain motion from place to place, sometimes appearing to cleave close to the sails and masts; but they frequently leap up and down with intermission, affording an obscure flame, like that of a candle burning faintly. They are produced by some sulphureous and bituminous matter, which being beat down by the motion of the air above, and gathering together, is kindled by the agitation of the air, as butter is gathered together by the agitation of the cream. And from this appearance we infer that storms come from sulphureous spirits that rarify the air, and put it into a motion.” Varenius.