will-o'-the-wisp

American  

[wil-uh-thuh-wisp] / ˈwɪl ə ðəˈwɪsp /

noun

1. ignis fatuus.

2. anything that deludes or misleads by luring on.

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will-o'-the-wisp British  

/ ˌwɪləðəˈwɪsp /

noun

1. 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

2. a person or thing that is elusive or allures and misleads

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Other Word Forms

• will-o'-the-wispish adjective
• willo'-the-wispish adjective

Etymology

Origin of will-o'-the-wisp

1600–10; originally Will (i.e., William) with the wisp; wisp

Example Sentences

More myths would have surrounded the eerie blue glow of will-o'-the-wisp – methane from peat beds burning over the top of the marshes.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2024

Instead, for some reason, he followed Javy Báez down the line, as if Javy Báez was a will-o’-the-wisp.

From Slate • May 27, 2021

In fairness to Itzkoff, it’s this very will-o’-the-wisp quality that makes Williams a tricky man to pin down.

From New York Times • May 15, 2018

The idea of parliamentary elections, in principle scheduled for September, at this point is only a will-o’-the-wisp.

From Washington Times • May 7, 2018

“What did I do, Jane? I transformed myself into a will-o’-the-wisp.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë