chain lightning

American  

noun

1. Chiefly Northeastern and Western U.S. lightning that seems to move very quickly in wavy or zigzag lines.

2. bead lightning.

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chain lightning British  

noun

1. another name for forked lightning

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Etymology

Origin of chain lightning

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

Hunters will unleash an arc burst of chain lightning that tracks enemies with their glaive.

From The Verge • Feb. 28, 2022

Finally, jumpy hunters get an arc burst of chain lightning that tracks enemies in true hunter-style.

From The Verge • Feb. 1, 2022

It savaged patients and snaked like chain lightning out from the hospital through patients’ families.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

A silent flash traveled around the mountain, followed by another flash— chain lightning, but no thunder reached the town.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

"Come, be quick and be quiet; you know he's chain lightning."

From The Call of the Beaver Patrol or, A Break in the Glacier by Sherman, V. T.