brush discharge

noun, Electricity
1.
a type of corona discharge that takes place between two electrodes at atmospheric pressure, characterized by long, branched, luminous streamers of ionized particles.
Origin
1840-50
British Dictionary definitions for brush discharge

brush discharge

noun
1.
a slightly luminous electrical discharge between points of high charge density when the charge density is insufficient to cause a spark or around sharp points on a highly charged conductor because of ionization of air molecules in their vicinity