Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A meteorological phenomenon also known as a lunar rainbow or white rainbow, well documented at Cumberland Falls near Corbin, Kentucky, Victoria Falls in Africa as well as other places such as Yosemite National Park.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

moon + bow, by analogy from rainbow

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Examples

  • On the Big Island, Chain of Craters Road is unbelievable, and driving towards Waimea is the only place I have ever seen a "moonbow" - a rainbow made from the light of a full moon.

    SFGate: Top News Stories 2010

  • " "At night it would more properly be called a moonbow, I should think, but they are one and the same thing.

    Kingdoms of Light Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 2001

  • It's called a moonbow and if you're at Yosemite National Park this weekend, you might want to stay up late to catch a glimpse.

    msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines 2011

  • Since I’ve arrived home, I have learned that a moonbow is a recognized phenomenon.

    True Spirit Jessica Watson 2010

  • If the full moon is bright, I stroll over to the base of Yosemite Falls and look into the mist for the shimmering, opalescent “moonbow.”

    Yosemite's Rock Stars 2009

  • If the full moon is bright, I stroll over to the base of Yosemite Falls and look into the mist for the shimmering, opalescent “moonbow.”

    Yosemite's Rock Stars 2009

  • If the full moon is bright, I stroll over to the base of Yosemite Falls and look into the mist for the shimmering, opalescent “moonbow.”

    Yosemite's Rock Stars 2009

  • When it was dark, instead of going to sleep they drove out to the falls to see the moonbow.

    dream of night heather henson 2010

  • When it was dark, instead of going to sleep they drove out to the falls to see the moonbow.

    dream of night heather henson 2010

  • When it was dark, instead of going to sleep they drove out to the falls to see the moonbow.

    dream of night heather henson 2010

Comments

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  • Young people who crave now to know

    What fortune may some day bestow

    Will assuage this fancy

    With selenomancy

    And dance 'neath the pearly moonbow.

    January 9, 2017