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Linguistics | | English term or phrase: patches of sunlight | Dear Colleagues,
Is there e specific name for patches of sunlight on the floor or walls or somewhere else when children (usually :) ) reflect sunlight in a mirror or something similar? |
|  Kristine LielauseKudoZ activityQuestions: 333 (none open) ( 14 closed without grading) Answers: 336
Latvia
| | Local time: 04:19
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| | English translation:patches | Explanation:
I don't think there's another word, except something like "a rectangle of sunlight". "Patch" is the word I would use. A ray of sunlight strikes the mirror. The reflection makes a patch of sunlight on the wall or floor. If it is small and concentrated it could be called a spot of sunlight.
A sun dog, or sundog, are not the same thing at all; it is an optical effect of a false sun in the sky caused by ice crystals in the atmosphere.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_dog
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Note added at 16 mins (2012-02-09 09:05:35 GMT)
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I am reminded here of the scene in Büchner's Woyzeck (and Alban Berg's operatic version Wozzeck), in which Marie is looking in a mirror, admiring the earrings the Drum Major has given her, and also trying to get her child to sleep. She uses the mirror to flash a spot or patch of sunlight onto the wall and tells the child it is the sandman, who will come and get the child if he doesn't go to sleep.
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Note added at 18 mins (2012-02-09 09:07:46 GMT)
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I love "sunhares"! I don't know of a poetic name for them in English. Perhaps someone else will be able to think of one.
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Note added at 1 day1 hr (2012-02-10 10:33:47 GMT) Post-grading
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You're most welcome, Kristine, but I am very disappointed not to be able to offer you an equivalent for your "sunhares"! |
| Selected response from:
Charles Davis
Local time: 03:19
| Grading comment Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Discussion entries: 0 |
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Automatic update in 00:
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3 mins confidence:  peer agreement (net): +2 sun dogs
Explanation:
the term has already been discussed
| | | Notes to answerer
Asker: That's why am asking as sundogs mean something else.
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The translation workplace 
