fata morgana








noun

  1. Meteorology. a mirage consisting of multiple images, as of cliffs and buildings, that are distorted and magnified to resemble elaborate castles, often seen near the Straits of Messina.

noun

  1. a mirage, esp one in the Strait of Messina attributed to the sorcery of Morgan le Fay
n.

1818, literally “Fairy Morgana,” mirage especially common in the Strait of Messina, Italy, from Morgana, the “Morgan le Fay” of Anglo-French poetry, sister of King Arthur, located in Calabria by Norman settlers. Morgan is Welsh, “sea-dweller.” There is perhaps, too, here an influence of Arabic marjan, literally “pearl,” also a fem. proper name, popularly the name of a sorceress.

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