What is "lightning bug"

Lightning \Light"ning\ (l[imac]t"n[i^]ng), n. [For lightening, fr. lighten to flash.]

1. A discharge of atmospheric electricity, accompanied by a vivid flash of light, commonly from one cloud to another, sometimes from a cloud to the earth. The sound produced by the electricity in passing rapidly through the atmosphere constitutes thunder.

2. The act of making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment; brightening, as of the mental powers. [R.]

   Ball lightning, a rare form of lightning sometimes seen as a globe of fire moving from the clouds to the earth.

   Chain lightning, lightning in angular, zigzag, or forked flashes.

   Heat lightning, more or less vivid and extensive flashes of electric light, without thunder, seen near the horizon, esp. at the close of a hot day.

   Lightning arrester (Telegraphy), a device, at the place where a wire enters a building, for preventing injury by lightning to an operator or instrument. It consists of a short circuit to the ground interrupted by a thin nonconductor over which lightning jumps. Called also lightning discharger.

   Lightning bug (Zo["o]l.), a luminous beetle. See Firefly.

   Lightning conductor, a lightning rod.

   Lightning glance, a quick, penetrating glance of a brilliant eye.

   Lightning rod, a metallic rod set up on a building, or on the mast of a vessel, and connected with the earth or water below, for the purpose of protecting the building or vessel from lightning.

   Sheet lightning, a diffused glow of electric light flashing out from the clouds, and illumining their outlines. The appearance is sometimes due to the reflection of light from distant flashes of lightning by the nearer clouds.

n. A firefly.

n. nocturnal beetle common in warm regions having luminescent abdominal organs [syn: firefly]

Lightning Bug can refer to:

• A firefly
  • Photinus (beetle)
  • Photuris (genus)
  • Pyractomena

Lightning Bug is a 2004 coming of age drama film. It is the debut film by writer/director Robert Green Hall, an SFX makeup artist known primarily for his work on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the films, Laid to Rest and its sequel, ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2.

It is a fictionalized account of Hall's own childhood and entry into special effects makeup for film and television. It was executive produced by Laura Prepon as a way to expand her image as an actress beyond her role on That '70s Show.

It was filmed on location Fairview, Alabama.

Lightning Bug was published in 1970. It is a story of lost love and the search for a rekindling of that love by main character Latha Bourne. Donald Harington wrote this novel as a tribute to his childhood home.