Parhelion
/pɑːrˈhiːliən/noun
A bright spot or patch of light on either side of the sun, caused by refraction of sunlight through ice crystals.
Did you know?The word comes from Greek and literally means “beside the sun,” and these sun-dogs were often interpreted as celestial signs or portents in earlier centuries.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
παρήλιον (parḗlion)
“A phenomenon appearing beside the sun”
Late Latin
Latin
parhelion
“A borrowed learned term for a sun dog or mock sun”
16th Century
English
parhelion
“A meteorological term for a mock sun or bright spot near the sun”
Modern English
English
parhelion
“A bright luminous spot appearing near the sun, usually caused by ice crystals in the atmosphere”
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