noun
or brocken bow ˈbräkən-
Usage: usually capitalized B
Etymology: from Brocken, peak in the Harz mountains, Germany; Brocken specter, translation of German brockengespenst
: an optical phenomenon sometimes seen from the summit of mountains or from an aircraft when the observer is between the sun and a mass of cloud, the figures of the observer and surrounding objects being seen projected on the cloud much enlarged and often encircled by rainbow colors — compare glory 6a (3)