Lightning
/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/noun
A natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground.
Did you know?In many cultures, lightning was considered a weapon of the gods, often associated with divine retribution and power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lewk-
“to shine, to be light”
Old English
Old English
līhting
“a striking with light, a flash of light”
Middle English
Middle English
lightning
“the act of making light, a bright flash in the sky”
Modern English
English
lightning
“the electrical discharge that creates a bright flash in the atmosphere”