an extended simile, as used in the epic poetry of Homer and other writers
epic simile in American English
noun
a simile developed over several lines of verse, esp. one used in an epic poem
Also called: Homeric simile
Word origin
[1940–45]This word is first recorded in the period 1940–45. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: airlift, black box, debrief, update, whiteout