Forms: 6 (corpus sancti), 7 corpus sant, (pl.) corpuzans, 8 (corpo zanto), corpusant, (pl.) corpusanse, 8– corposant. See also COMPOSANT. [ad. Pg. and OSp. corpo santo = L. corpus sanctum holy body, or corpus sancti saint’s body: cf. CORSAINT.]
The ball of light that is sometimes seen on a ship (esp. about the masts or yard-arms) during a storm; also called ‘St. Elmo’s Fire.’
1561. Eden, Arte Nauig., II. xx. 51 b. Shining exhalations that appeare in tempestes: which the Mariners call sant-elmo or Corpus sancti.
1655. Marvell, Poems, First Anniversary, 270. While baleful Tritons to the shipwrack guide, and corposants along the tacklings slide.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. xv. 414. After four a clock the Thunder and the Rain abated, and then we saw a Corpus Sant at our Main-top-mast head…. This sight rejoyc’d our Men exceedingly; for the height of the Storm is commonly over when the Corpus Sant is seen aloft.
1710. Brit. Apollo, III. No. 94. 2/1. A Vapor … by Marriners call’d a Corpo Zanto.
1738. T. Shaw, Trav. Barbary & Levant, 363. Those luminous Bodies, which, at Sea, skip about the Masts and Yards of Ships, and are called Corpusanse by the Mariners.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxxiv. 131. Upon the main top-gallant masthead was a ball of light, which the sailors name a corposant (corpus sancti).
1888. Judd, in, Erupt. Krakatoa (ed. Symons, 1888), 20. Captain WATSON states that during the night the mastheads and yard-arms of his ship were ‘studded with corposants.’
b. fig.
1650. B., Discolliminium, 41. Some new-lighted Corpuzans of the Army, or some young Paracretto’s now nursing up in the Universities, to supply your roomes, will finish the other half.
