bolide

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 26, 2010 is: bolide • \BOH-lyde\  • noun : a large meteor : fireball; especially : one that explodes Examples: 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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.