Dictionary

Min Min light en · NOUN

Etymology

Named after the small settlement of Min Min, located between the outback towns of Boulia and Winton, where the light was observed by a stockman in 1918.

Meanings

1. (Australia) An unexplained light reportedly appearing in the sky in remote parts of Australia, especially northwest Queensland, possibly caused by reflections of distant light in the dry air conditions.
   • Travellers camping out on the plains may witness a glowing light that seems to hover eerily across the vast landscape – the unexplained Min Min Lights that have been shrouded in mystery for over 100 years. 2010, Craig Lewis, Cathy Savage, The Complete 4WD Guide, unnumbered page:
   • Min-min lights are usually seen during the winter, for example, when cold-air inversions abound. This, and his artificial min-min, seemed to confirm the theory. 2003, New Scientist, volume 180, numbers 2415-2428, page 71:
   • Then, once a man was talking about his outdoor work, he got around to speaking about the mysteries of the min-min light and who saw it where. 2006, Alexis Wright, Carpentaria, Giramondo, published 2012, page 340:
   • Neuroscientist, Professor Jack Pettigrew, of the University of Queensland claims the Min Min lights are an inverted mirage of light sources hundreds of miles away, caused by a temperature inversion when cold dense air is trapped near the ground to be refracted so that it travels a curved path around the globe. 2006, Marion Houldsworth, From Gulf to God Knows Where, footnote, page 127:
   • “You′ve heard of Min Min lights?” She grinned. “Sure.” The strange appearance of those lights in the outback was legendary.[…] “Min Min lights were part of Aboriginal folklore long before modern day sightings made them famous,” Jack said. 2010, Robyn Grady, Bargaining For Baby, unnumbered page:

Forms

Relateds

will o' the wisp