Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A constellation in the Southern Hemisphere near Puppis and Lepus, containing the star Sirius.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun astronomy A winter constellation of the northern sky, said to resemble a dog following the hunter Orion. It includes the brightest star in the night sky Sirius, which is appropriately known as the Dog Star.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a constellation to the southeast of Orion; contains Sirius

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin Canis Māior : canis, dog + māior, larger.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin canis maior, the "greater dog"

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Examples

  • He made up openly to _Canis Major_ and was shortly on what might almost be considered terms of affection with _Venus_.

    The Prophet of Berkeley Square Robert Smythe Hichens 1907

  • Lepus is about 18° west of Canis Major, and, by reason of the earth's motion, the Great Dog seems to be pursuing the Hare around the heavens.

    A Field Book of the Stars William Tyler Olcott 1904

  • Close by the poor Hare, on the left, leaps _Canis Major_, the Greater

    Half-Hours with the Stars A Plain and Easy Guide to the Knowledge of the Constellations 1862

  • By Canis Major, I’m no expert on Earth’s synchronized rowing sports, but I’m pretty sure that introducing an eighteen-legged, talking costumed superdog from space as a last minute ringer for your entire rowing team constitutes some sort of rules violation.

    Archive 2009-05-01 Brian Hughes 2009

  • By Canis Major, I’m no expert on Earth’s synchronized rowing sports, but I’m pretty sure that introducing an eighteen-legged, talking costumed superdog from space as a last minute ringer for your entire rowing team constitutes some sort of rules violation.

    We Predict You Will Be Pleased With Prophetic Pup! Brian Hughes 2009

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