sun-angel

noun — 2 senses

sun-angel

noun
1

Alternative Alternative form of sunangel.

  • The little group of hummers, called by the poetical name of sun-angels, are all remarkable for the exceeding lustre of the feathers decorating their throats.1877, Arthur's Illustrated Home Magazine, volumes 45-46, page 131:
  • The mars sun-angel is a native of the Andes, and is a very rare bird, no other of the species has the same colouring.1883, Thomas John Barnardo, Our Darlings, page 54:
1 more example
  • In most hummingbirds, only the male is iridescent, but in the South American tourmaline sun-angel, some females are as well, while others are plain-coloured.1986, BBC Wildlife, volumes 4-5, page 126:
2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see sun, angel.

  • According to poetical conception this was Uriel the sun-angel.1881, The Epistle to the Hebrews, page 270:
  • "This is not a woman!" declared Philip with heat and eagerness, " at least not the sort of woman I have ever known! This is a forest-empress, sea-goddess, or sun-angel !..."1888, Marie Corelli, Thelma: a Norwegian Princess, page 24:
1 more example
  • It is especially popular in Persia where at one time Meher or Mithra, the sun or sun-angel, was held in high veneration.1899, Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, volume 9, Part 2, page 216:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.