Sun dog
/ˈsʌn dɒɡ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A bright spot in the sky, usually one of two on a parhelic circle on both sides of the sun (or occasionally above and below it), caused by the refraction of the sun's image through ice crystals.
"December […] the 28th [1714], the Sun being an Hour high, appeared a Sun-Dog or Parhelion, the Sky full of flying Clouds."
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"December […] the 28th [1714], the Sun being an Hour high, appeared a Sun-Dog or Parhelion, the Sky full of flying Clouds."
Etymology
PIE word *sóh₂wl̥ From sun + dog (“(figurative) visible atmospheric or meteorological phenomenon”) ; metaphorically refers to the bright spots of light that appear to "dog" or follow the real sun, much like a dog follows its owner.