ball lightning

noun

1. a rare form of lightning, consisting of a bright, luminous ball that moves rapidly along objects or floats in the air.

ball lightning

noun

1. meteorol a luminous electrically charged ball occasionally seen during electrical storms

ball lightning

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ball lightning¹

First recorded in 1855–60