狐きつね火び

noun

foxfire; will-o'-the-wisp

In Japanese folklore, a mysterious pale light seen at night in fields and mountains, traditionally attributed to foxes. Equivalent to Western will-o'-the-wisp or ignis fatuus.

• 夜よるの山やま道みちで狐きつね火びを見みたという話はなしを聞きいた。

  I heard a story about someone seeing foxfire on a mountain path at night.

• 狐きつね火びは、昔むかしの人ひと々びとにとっては狐きつねの仕し業わざだと考かんがえられていた。

  Foxfire was thought by people long ago to be the work of foxes.