Circle of Ulloa
Preserved but no longer current.
A white rainbow or luminous ring sometimes seen in Alpine regions opposite the sun in foggy weather. Named from Antonio de Ulloa (1716-95), a Spanish naval officer who founded the observa- tory at Cadiz and initiated many scientific enterprises.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Circle of Ulloa” mean?
A white rainbow or luminous ring sometimes seen in Alpine regions opposite the sun in foggy weather. Named from Antonio de Ulloa (1716-95), a Spanish naval officer who founded the observa- tory at Cadiz and initiated many scientific enterprises.
Is “Circle of Ulloa” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.