chain lightning

noun

1. Chiefly Northeastern and Western U.S. lightning that seems to move very quickly in wavy or zigzag lines.
2. bead lightning.

chain lightning

noun

1. another name for forked lightning

Word History and Origins

Origin of chain lightning¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

Hunters will unleash an arc burst of chain lightning that tracks enemies with their glaive.

From The Verge

Finally, jumpy hunters get an arc burst of chain lightning that tracks enemies in true hunter-style.

From The Verge

A silent flash traveled around the mountain, followed by another flash— chain lightning, but no thunder reached the town.

From Literature

The Kraken backs up swings of its deadly tentacles with bursts of chain lightning.

From Washington Times

It was the stuff of children’s myth—Georgie had an eye for the back of the net and a left foot like chain lightning—but it all seemed plausible.

From The New Yorker