Dictionary

will o' the wisp en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌwɪləðəˈwɪsp/ (US)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From Will (“male given name”) + of + the + wisp (“a bundle of straw or hay used as a torch”)

Meanings

1. Any of several kinds of pale, flickering light, appearing over marshland in many parts of the world with diverse folkloric explanations and multiple possible scientific explanations including bioluminescence and chemiluminescence.
2. (UK) Any of several kinds of pale, flickering light, appearing over marshland in many parts of the world with diverse folkloric explanations and multiple possible scientific explanations including bioluminescence and chemiluminescence. ▸ A flickering light or lantern, especially over bogs, swamps or marshes, held by a supernatural creature who uses it to lure travelers at night to their demise.
   • They plague and annoy lazy men-servants and untidy maids with frightful dreams; oppress them as the nightmare; bite them as fleas; and scratch and tear them like cats and dogs; and often in the night frighten, in the shape of owls, thieves and lovers, or, like Will-o-the-wisps, lead them astray into bogs and marshes[.] 1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 283:
   • 1988, Michael Weikath, "Keeper of the Seven Keys", Helloween, Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II. Will o' the wisps / Misguiding your path / You can't throw a curse / Without takin' their wrath
3. (figuratively) A delusionary or otherwise unachievable goal that one feels compelled to pursue.
   • I happen to think the brothers’ pi project is a will-o’-the-wisp, and is one of the least interesting things they’ve ever done. But what do I know? 1992 March 2, Richard Preston, “The Mountains of Pi”, in The New Yorker:
   • Some preliminary legal arrangements were made, but the scheme proceeded no further, as the various local authorities concerned were unwilling to speculate public funds on what was, even at that date, a will o' the wisp. 1951 May, R. K. Kirkland, “The Cavan & Leitrim Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 345:

Forms

Relateds

Min Min light

Synonyms

friar's lantern · hinkypunk · friar's lantern · nightfire · jack-o'-lantern · walking fire · hinkypunk · nightfire · marsh light · ignis fatuus · jack-o'-lantern · Spooklight · ignis fatuus · marsh light · ghost light · ghost light · Spooklight · walking fire

Translations (122)

la ignis erraticus (strange light) · ps اګیا بیتال (strange light) · mi tūtutupo (strange light) · fr feu follet (strange light) · ja ウィルオウィスプ (strange light) · no irrlys (strange light) · sv bländverk (delusionary goal) · ur چھلاوا (strange light) · af dwaallig (strange light) · eu argi-txakurra (strange light) · eu arima-argia (strange light) · pt quimera (delusionary goal) · oc fuòc folet (strange light) · no vettelys (strange light) · hu bolygótűz (strange light) · hu lidérc (strange light) · lmo foeugh senza foeugh (strange light) · ja ウィル・オー・ザ・ウィスプ (strange light) · mi unahiroa (strange light) · nds-de Dodenlücht (strange light) · es luz de muerto (delusionary goal) · pt fogo corredor (strange light) · pt fogo tolo (strange light) · nrf bélengi (strange light) · hsb błudnička (strange light) · ka ცდომილი ალი (strange light) · cs bludička (strange light) · fur fûc voladi (strange light) · nl dwaallicht (strange light) · sl varljivo svetlikanje (strange light) · uk блимавки (strange light) · de Irrlicht (strange light) · nds-de Spöklicht (strange light) · no lyktemann (strange light) · sc focu de sas animas (strange light) · pl ognik (strange light) · lmo fiamminn (strange light) · ar الوَهْج المُسْتَنْقعيّ (strange light) · uk вогники мандрівні (strange light) · ms jerambang (strange light) · nrf veue d'aventuthe (strange light) · ka ცთომილი ალი (strange light) · fi aarretuli (strange light) · la ignis fatuus (strange light) · fi virvatuli (delusionary goal) · he ויל־או־ויס (strange light) · ka ცდომილი შუქი (strange light) · ka ცდომილი სინათლე (strange light) · ko 도깨비불 (strange light) · bn আলেয়া (strange light) · pdt Woselicht (strange light) · is hrævareldur (strange light) · lmo fiammei (strange light) · no alvelys (strange light) · ca foc follet (strange light) · fi aarnivalkea (strange light) · bg зловещо сияние (strange light) · sc fogu de campusantu (strange light) · sv irrbloss (strange light) · dsb błudnik (strange light) · it fuoco fatuo (strange light) · bcl santilmo (strange light) · ro focul rătăcitor (strange light) · fi aarnituli (strange light) · de Sumpflicht (strange light) · rom choxãnêski-vyedyáriya (strange light) · tr bataklık yakamozu (strange light) · eo erarlumo (strange light) · ga tine ghealáin (strange light) · ar النار الحمقاء (strange light) · pl błędny ognik (strange light) · fa روشنایی مرداب (strange light) · es luz de muerto (strange light) · ko 윌오더위스프 (strange light) · et virvatuli (strange light) · sc ziròne (strange light) · pt fogo-fátuo (strange light) · lt pelkių ugnis (strange light) · gl fogo fatuo (strange light) · it fuoco fatuo (delusionary goal) · fr miroir aux alouettes (delusionary goal) · sv lyktgubbe (strange light) · pt João Galafoice (strange light) · hu lidércfény (strange light) · vls dwoalluchtn (strange light) · ru блужда́ющий огонёк (strange light) · es fuego fatuo (delusionary goal) · uk мандрівні вогні (strange light) · sh divlji oganj (strange light) · he אוֹר מַטְעֶה (strange light) · ja 鬼火 (strange light) · eu sutxakurra (strange light) · de Sumpflichter (strange light) · ka ცთომილი შუქი (strange light) · sk bludička (strange light) · sk svetlonos (strange light) · da lygtemand (strange light) · lmo fana (strange light) · as ধনগুলৈ (strange light) · bg блуждаещият пламък (strange light) · tr bataklık ışığı (strange light) · lt žaltvykslė (strange light) · sl nepojasnjeni ogenj (strange light) · lmo foeugh arz (strange light) · he ויל־או׳־דה־ויספ (strange light) · de Irrwisch (strange light) · vi ma trơi (strange light) · lmo fogazzoeu (strange light) · nl hersenschim (delusionary goal) · eo vaglumo (strange light) · fi virvatuli (strange light) · cmn 鬼火 (strange light) · sh дивљи огањ (strange light) · unm tèhtaonkëlëmhès (strange light) · uk блукаючі вогні (strange light) · lv malduguns (strange light) · ka ცთომილი სინათლე (strange light) · ur اگیا بیتال (strange light) · vls dwoasluchtn (strange light) · ps چیهلوا (strange light) · pt boitatá (strange light) · es fuego fatuo (strange light)