Also (erron.) 5 chor-, 7–9 corr-. [ad. L. coruscātiōn-em, n. of action f. coruscāre to CORUSCATE.]
The action of coruscating; usually with a and pl.: A vibratory or quivering flash of light, or a display of such flashes; in early use always of atmospheric phenomena.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xiv. 53. I shall girde alle the heuens wyth thondres, lyghtnynges, choruscacyons.
1563. Fulke, Meteors (1640), 26 b. Coruscation is a glistering of fire … and a glimmering of lightning.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., viii. 126. Coruscations, or scintillations seen in the night.
1791. E. Darwin, Bot. Gard., I. Notes 3. The coruscations of the Aurora borealis.
1829. I. Taylor, Enthus., iv. (1867), 81. What so grotesque as the coruscations of frost?
1878. Markham, Gt. Frozen Sea, xv. 206. As a rule the auroras consisted of faint coruscations darting across the heavens.
fig. a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., i. 19. Those pure coruscations of immortal … truth will shine into us.
1810. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), III. 252. The mere corruscation of heated fancy.
1880. Todhunter, Shelley, vii. 199. Coruscations of epigrammatic wit.
