sun-angel

English

Noun

sun-angel (plural sun-angels)

1. Alternative form of sunangel
   • 1877, Arthur's Illustrated Home Magazine, volumes 45-46, page 131:

     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.

   • 1883, Thomas John Barnardo, Our Darlings, page 54:

     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.

   • 1986, BBC Wildlife, volumes 4-5, page 126:

     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.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see sun,‎ angel.
   • 1881, The Epistle to the Hebrews, page 270:

     According to poetical conception this was Uriel the sun-angel.

   • 1888, Marie Corelli, Thelma: a Norwegian Princess, page 24:

     "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 !..."

   • 1899, Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, volume 9, Part 2, page 216:

     It is especially popular in Persia where at one time Meher or Mithra, the sun or sun-angel, was held in high veneration.