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prettygoodwordcanicular - n., of or pertaining to the Dog Star or its rising; of or relating to the dog days of summer.
In use since the 12th century, taken from Latin canīculāris, of or pertaining to Canīcula, the Latin name for Sirius (Alpha Canis Major), from the diminutive of canis, dog. Canis Major being the constellation of on of the dogs of Orion the hunter -- the other being Canis Minor, the brightest star of which is Procyon, which canicular sometimes also is a pertaining to. The rising referred to is the heliacal rising of Sirius, which in the time of the ancient Greeks was around this time,* which is how this time of year became known in the northern hemisphere as the Dog Days. Pronounced can-NIK-yu-ler.
* No longer true due to the precession of the equinoxes.
---L.
In use since the 12th century, taken from Latin canīculāris, of or pertaining to Canīcula, the Latin name for Sirius (Alpha Canis Major), from the diminutive of canis, dog. Canis Major being the constellation of on of the dogs of Orion the hunter -- the other being Canis Minor, the brightest star of which is Procyon, which canicular sometimes also is a pertaining to. The rising referred to is the heliacal rising of Sirius, which in the time of the ancient Greeks was around this time,* which is how this time of year became known in the northern hemisphere as the Dog Days. Pronounced can-NIK-yu-ler.
* No longer true due to the precession of the equinoxes.
---L.
