parhelion

2 definitions found

parhelion - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Parhelion \Par*hel"ion\, n.; pl. Parhelia. [L. parelion, Gr.
     ?, ?; para` beside + ? the sun.]
     A mock sun appearing in the form of a bright light, sometimes
     near the sun, and tinged with colors like the rainbow, and
     sometimes opposite to the sun. The latter is usually called
     an anthelion. Often several mock suns appear at the same
     time. Cf. Paraselene.
     [1913 Webster]

parhelion - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  parhelion
      n 1: a bright spot on the parhelic circle; caused by diffraction
           by ice crystals; "two or more parhelia are usually seen at
           once" [syn: parhelion, mock sun, sundog]