CORPOSANTS Meaning and
Definition
-
Corposants refer to the luminous electrical discharges or manifestations that are sometimes observed around the masts, riggings, or other elevated parts of a ship or a coastal structure during storms or atmospheric electrification. The term is mainly used in naval and maritime contexts. Also known as St. Elmo's fire, corposants appear as a bluish or greenish glow in the form of flickering flames, sparks, or steady glimmers, accompanied by a crackling sound.
Corposants are caused by the ionization of the surrounding air due to the highly charged atmosphere during storms. This ionization creates a localized electrical field that can lead to the discharge of electricity along pointed or elevated structures such as ship masts. The phenomenon is often observed during thunderstorms, when the electric potentials in the air become sufficiently high to generate corposants.
The term "corposants" is derived from the Portuguese word "corpo santo," which means "holy body" or "saintly body." Sailors and mariners historically associated these luminous discharges with divine intervention or supernatural forces, often interpreting them as signals or protectors during stormy weather.
However, in modern scientific understanding, corposants are seen as a natural consequence of electrical phenomena in the atmosphere, specifically related to the presence of an electric field and ionized air. While they can be intriguing and striking to observe, corposants are generally harmless and do not pose significant risks to ships or coastal structures.
Common Misspellings for CORPOSANTS
- xorposants
- vorposants
- forposants
- dorposants
- cirposants
- ckrposants
- clrposants
- cprposants
- c0rposants
- c9rposants
- coeposants
- codposants
- cofposants
- cotposants
- co5posants
- co4posants
- coroosants
- corlosants
- cor-osants
- cor0osants
Etymology of CORPOSANTS
The word corposants has its roots in the French language. It is derived from the Old French word corps, meaning body, and the present participle of the verb sanir, meaning to make holy or to sanctify. As such, corposants literally translates to making holy bodies.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
