sighting
UK: ˈsaɪtɪŋ | US: ˈsaɪtɪŋ
n. the act of seeing or observing something, especially something unusual or noteworthy
n. an instance of visually detecting a specific object or phenomenon (e.g., a rare bird or UFO)
The word "sighting" combines "sight," derived from Old English siht (meaning "vision" or "something seen"), with the suffix "-ing," which forms nouns denoting actions or results. "Sight" traces back to Proto-Germanic sihtiz, linked to the verb seon ("to see"). The suffix "-ing" is of Old English origin (-ung), commonly used to create verbal nouns. The term evolved to specifically describe observed events, often with an element of rarity or significance (e.g., wildlife or celestial sightings).
The birdwatcher reported a rare sighting of a golden eagle.
UFO sightings increased after the meteor shower.
The hikers shared their sighting of a black bear near the trail.
Historical records include multiple sightings of comets.
The sailor logged the sighting of a distant ship on the horizon.