pyrophorus

noun

py·​roph·​o·​rus

pīˈräfərəs

1

plural pyrophori : any of several substances or mixtures (as a carbonized mixture of alum and sugar, or finely divided lead or iron) that ignite spontaneously on exposure to air

2

capitalized : a genus of large tropical American beetles (family Elateridae) bearing a pair of large luminous organs on the prothorax see fire beetle

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek pyrophoros fire-bearing, from pyr- + -phoros -phorous

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