will-o'-the-wisp
[ wil-uh-thuh-wisp ]
noun
anything that deludes or misleads by luring on.
Origin of will-o'-the-wisp
1Other words from will-o'-the-wisp
- willo'-the-wispish; especially British, willo'-the-wispy, adjective
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British Dictionary definitions for will-o'-the-wisp
will-o'-the-wisp
/ (ˌwɪləðəˈwɪsp) /
noun
Also called: friar's lantern, ignis fatuus, 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
a person or thing that is elusive or allures and misleads
Origin of will-o'-the-wisp
1C17: 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
Derived forms of will-o'-the-wisp
- will-o'-the-wispish or will-o'-the-wispy, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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