parhelion

English

Etymology

From Latin parelion, from Ancient Greek παρήλιον (parḗlion), from παρά (pará) + ἥλιος (hḗlios, “sun”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɑːˈhiːlɪən/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

parhelion (plural parhelia or parhelions)

1. A bright spot in the sky due to the refraction of the sun’s image by ice crystals.
2. A reflection or image.
   • 1962, Vladimir Nabokov, Pale Fire:

     The short (166 lines) Canto One, with all those amusing birds and parhelia, occupies thirteen cards.

Synonyms

• mock sun
• sun dog

Derived terms

• parhelic

Translations

bright spot in the sky due to refraction of the sun by ice crystals — see sun dog

Anagrams

• orphaline