will o the wisp
əRelated forms
will·o'-the-wisp·ish; especially British, will·o'-the-wisp·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To will o the wisp
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World English Dictionary
will-o'-the-wisp (ˌwɪləðəˈwɪsp) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | friar's lantern, ignis fatuus, Also called: jack-o'-lantern a pale flame or phosphorescence sometimes seen over marshy ground at night. It is believed to be due to the spontaneous combustion of methane or other hydrocarbons originating from decomposing organic matter |
| 2. | a person or thing that is elusive or allures and misleads |
| [C17: originally Will with the wisp, from Will short for William and wisp in former sense of a twist of hay or straw burning as a torch] | |
| will-o'-the-'wispish | |
| —adj | |
| will-o'-the-'wispy | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Will o the wisp
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
will-o'-the-wisp
1661, earlier Will with the wisp (1608), from the masc. proper name Will + wisp "bundle of hay or straw used as a torch."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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