shooting star

Meteor Me"te*or, n. [F. m['e]t['e]ore, Gr. ?, pl. ? things in the air, fr. ? high in air, raised off the ground; ? beyond + ?, ?, a suspension or hovering in the air, fr. ? to lift, raise up.] [1913 Webster] 1. Any phenomenon or appearance in the atmosphere, as clouds, rain, hail, snow, etc. [1913 Webster]

Hail, an ordinary meteor. --Bp. Hall. [1913 Webster]

2. Specif.: A transient luminous body or appearance seen in the atmosphere, or in a more elevated region. [1913 Webster]

The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with burning meteors. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. A mass of stone or other substance which sometimes falls to the earth from space beyond the moon, burning up from atomospheric friction and creating a brilliant but usually very brief trail of light in the atmosphere; also called a {shooting star}. [PJC]

Note: The term is especially applied to fireballs, and the masses of stone or other substances which sometimes fall to the earth; also to shooting stars and to ignes fatui. Meteors are often classed as: aerial meteors, winds, tornadoes, etc.; aqueous meteors, rain, hail, snow, dew, etc.; luminous meteors, rainbows, halos, etc.; and igneous meteors, lightning, shooting stars, and the like. [1913 Webster]