Noun: ignis fatuus (ignis fatui) 'ig-nus'fa-choo-us
- A pale light sometimes seen at night over marshy ground
"The eerie glow of the ignis fatuus led many to believe in supernatural occurrences in the swamp";
- friar's lantern, jack-o'-lantern, will-o'-the-wisp
- An illusion that misleads
"They chased the ignis fatuus of fame, only to find disappointment";
- will-o'-the-wisp
Type of: fancy, fantasy, illusion, light, phantasy [archaic], visible light, visible radiation
Encyclopedia: Ignis fatuus