Flying Saucers
Preserved but no longer current.
Alleged mysterious celestial phenomena resembling revolving, partially luminous discs that shoot across the sky at a high velocity and a great height. No feasible explanation has been put foward for these ob- jects, nor has any really authenticated proof been given of their existence.
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 “Flying Saucers” mean?
Alleged mysterious celestial phenomena resembling revolving, partially luminous discs that shoot across the sky at a high velocity and a great height. No feasible explanation has been put foward for these ob- jects, nor has any really authenticated proof been given of their existence.
Is “Flying Saucers” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.