corposant
(ˈkɔːpəzænt)
Forms: 6 (corpus sancti), 7 corpus sant, (pl.) corpuzans, 8 (corpo zanto), corpusant, (pl.) corpusanse, 8– corposant. See also composant.
[ad. Pg. and OSp. corpo santo = L. corpus sanctum holy body, or corpus sancti saint's body: cf. corsaint.]
The ball of light which is sometimes seen on a ship (esp. about the masts or yard-arms) during a storm; also called ‘St. Elmo's Fire’.
| 1561 Eden Arte Nauig. ii. xx. 51 b, Shining exhalations that appeare in tempestes: whiche the Mariners call sant⁓elmo or Corpus sancti. 1655 Marvell Poems, First Anniversary 270 While baleful Tritons to the shipwrack guide, and corposants along the tacklings slide. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. (1698) I. xv. 414 After four a clock the Thunder and the Rain abated, and then we saw a Corpus Sant at our Main-topmast head..This sight rejoic'd our Men..for the height of the Storm is commonly over when the Corpus Sant is seen aloft. 1710 Brit. Apollo III. No. 94. 2/1 A Vapor..by Marriners call'd a Corpo Zanto. 1738 T. Shaw Trav. Levant 363 Those luminous bodies which at sea skip about the masts and yards of ships, and are called corpusanse by the mariners. 1840 R. Dana Bef. Mast. xxxiv. 131 Upon the main top-gallant masthead was a ball of light, which the sailors name a corposant (corpus sancti). 1888 Juddin Krakatoa 20 Captain Watson states that during the night the mastheads and yard-arms of his ship were ‘studded with corposants’. |
b. fig.
| 1650 B. Discolliminium 41 Some new-lighted Corpuzans of the Army, or some young Parackettoes now nursing up in the Universities..will finish the other half. |