St. Elmo’s fire
saynt EL-mohz fire
A luminous plasma discharge from pointed objects during a thunderstorm — a blue or violet glow appearing on ship masts, aircraft wings, church steeples, or even the tips of horns on cattle. The air itself becomes electric. Not fire but ionized gas.
Etymology
Named for St. Erasmus of Formia (St. Elmo), patron saint of sailors. Mariners regarded the phenomenon as a sign of the saint's protection.
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