TERMIUM Plus^®

Record 1,  Textual support,  English

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF

A more or less continuous, luminous electrical discharge of weak or moderate intensity in the atmosphere, emanating from elevated objects at the Earth's surface (lightning conductors, wind vanes, masts of ships) or from aircraft in flight (wing tips, propellers, etc.).  8, record 1, English, - Saint%20Elmo%27s%20fire

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT

St. Elmo's fire ... occurs from objects, especially pointed ones, when the electrical field strength near their surfaces attains a value near 1000 volts per centimeter. It often occurs during stormy weather and might be seen on a ship's mast or yardarm, aircraft, lightning rods, and steeples.  6, record 1, English, - Saint%20Elmo%27s%20fire

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS

Saint Elmo's fire ... A single flame is called a Helena, or a Corposant; a double, or twin, flame is called a Castor and Pollux, or a double Corposant. It takes its name from St. Elmo, the patron saint of sailors.  5, record 1, English, - Saint%20Elmo%27s%20fire

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS

corposant: Portuguese and obsolete Spanish corpo santo, both from Latin corpus snctum, holy body : corpus, body ...  9, record 1, English, - Saint%20Elmo%27s%20fire

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 3 OBS

St. Elmo's fire: usually bluish or greenish in colour, sometimes white or violet.  10, record 1, English, - Saint%20Elmo%27s%20fire

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 4 OBS

St Elmo's fire is thought to be a form of corona discharge caused by the high electrical potential in a thunderstorm.  11, record 1, English, - Saint%20Elmo%27s%20fire

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 5 OBS

In consulted sources, most often than not, Saint Elmo's fire and corona discharge are considered as synonyms. However, some sources, define Saint Elmo's fire as a form of corona discharge. Saint Elmo's fire occurred during bad weather (thunderstorm, etc.). Corona discharge occurred when very strong electrical field develops. "When this luminous effect occurs on or near power lines, it is known as corona discharge, a phenomenon similar to Saint Elmo's Fire. Sometimes this ionized air detaches itself from the lines and moves about independently of them." [<a href="http://www.saviour-of-all.org/UFO2.html" title="http://www.saviour-of-all.org/UFO2.html">http://www.saviour-of-all.org/UFO2.html</a>]  12, record 1, English, - Saint%20Elmo%27s%20fire

Record 1,  Textual support,  French

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF

Décharge électrique lumineuse dans l’atmosphère; cette décharge, plus ou moins continue et d’intensité faible ou modérée, émane soit d’objets élevés situés à la surface du globe (paratonnerres, appareils anémométriques, mâts de navires, etc.), soit d’aéronefs en vol (bouts d’ailes, hélices, etc.).  3, record 1, French, - feu%20Saint%2DElme

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT

feu Saint-Elme. [...] Sous forme de panaches, ou bien d’aigrettes violettes ou verdâtres, nettement visible la nuit, ce phénomène s’observe lorsque le champ électrique devient intense au voisinage de la surface des objets.  4, record 1, French, - feu%20Saint%2DElme

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 CONT

L’éclair est annoncé parfois par des phénomènes lumineux qui apparaissent à l’extrémité des mâts de navire, aux angles des maisons, ou aux pics des montagnes. Dans un air fortement chargé d’électricité, de petites flammes bleues jaillissent autour de ces points particulièrement exposés. Ce sont des «feux Saint-Elme», du nom de l’évêque italien du début du IVe siècle, devenu patron des navigateurs.  5, record 1, French, - feu%20Saint%2DElme

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS

Le feu Saint-Elme. On le nommait aussi :feu de saint Nicolas ou feu de sainte Anne, divinités favorables aux marins. Actuellement, il est surtout connu sous le nom de feu Saint-Elme.  5, record 1, French, - feu%20Saint%2DElme

Record 1,  Textual support,  Spanish

Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF

Descarga eléctrica luminosa que se observa en la atmósfera, más o menos continua y de intensidad ligera o moderada, emitida por objetos elevados situados en la superficie terrestre (pararrayos, anemómetros, mástiles de buques, etc.) o en aeronaves en vuelo (extremos de las alas, hélices, etc.).  3, record 1, Spanish, - fuego%20de%20San%20Telmo