Ball lightning
a rare form of lightning, consisting of a bright, luminous ball that moves rapidly along objects or floats in the air.
Historical Examples
Someone, says a ball lightning came down and broke over there.
Pursuit Lester del Rey
As to what ball lightning is, we have not yet begun to make intelligent guesses.
The Book of the Damned Charles Fort
He returned to his adaptation of the Lawlor drive to the production of ball lightning.
The Pirates of Ersatz Murray Leinster
In the Monthly Weather Review, 33-409, there is an account of “ball lightning” that struck a tree.
The Book of the Damned Charles Fort
We are still far from understanding the interesting problem of the formation and nature of ball lightning.
Thunder and Lightning Camille Flammarion
It was based on the fact that ball lightning could be generated by a circuit fundamentally akin to the other two.
The Pirates of Ersatz Murray Leinster
In truth, ball lightning seems in a certain measure to escape the influence of lightning conductors.
Thunder and Lightning Camille Flammarion
A ball lightning bolt, even of only warning size, makes things uncomfortable when it strikes.
The Pirates of Ersatz Murray Leinster
This one mentioned the two mysterious explosions of “ball lightning” in a feature on the first page, but only as curiosities.
Pursuit Lester del Rey
noun
(meteorol) a luminous electrically charged ball occasionally seen during electrical storms
ball lightning
A rare form of lightning in the shape of a glowing red ball, associated with thunderstorms and sometimes accompanied by a loud noise. Ball lightning is thought to consist of ionized gas.
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