glimpse of an object's outline
Rare literary noun. Refers to catching a faint or partial view of something's shape or silhouette, often in poetic or classical contexts.
Beyond the fog, a glimpse of the old castle's outline appeared.
Compound of 隻 (one of a pair, fragmentary) and 影 (shadow, silhouette). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the word is a literary coinage not commonly used in modern speech.