saetta

lightning bolt

noun sah-ET-tah Rare

Origin: From Latin sagitta (arrow).

Also means

arrow

Usage Note

Saetta originally meant 'arrow' and retains that sense in literary and heraldic contexts, but in modern usage it most commonly means a lightning bolt or lightning flash. In some regional varieties it is synonymous with fulmine. As a simile, veloce come una saetta = 'as fast as lightning'.

Examples

"Una saetta ha colpito il campanile della chiesa."

Natural Translation

A lightning bolt struck the church bell tower.

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