WILL-O'-THE-WISP


Meaning of WILL-O'-THE-WISP in English

■ noun

1》 a phosphorescent light seen hovering or floating at night on marshy ground, thought to result from the combustion of natural gases.

2》 a person or thing that is difficult or impossible to reach or catch.

Origin

C17: orig. as Will with the wisp , the sense of wisp being 'handful of (lighted) hay'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.