Word of the Day

: January 26, 2010

bolide

noun BOH-lyde

What It Means

: a large meteor : fireball; especially : one that explodes

bolide in Context

Though probably no more than a foot in diameter, the bolide offered a brief and spectacular light show as it streaked across the sky.

Did You Know?

"Bolide," like "fireball," is a name applied to very bright meteors that often trail sparks. A clue to the origins of "bolide" can be found in the missile-like appearance of these meteors. The Greek "bolis," which comes from "bolē" ("throw" or "stroke"), literally means "missile" or "javelin." "Bolis" is the source of the Latin name given to these spectacular meteors, which is also "bolis." The word became "bolide" in French, from which it was borrowed by the English language in the mid-19th century.