Procyon

[proh-see-on]

noun Astronomy.

a first-magnitude star in the constellation Canis Minor.

Origin of Procyon

1650–60; < Latin < Greek Prokýōn name of a star, equivalent to pro- pro-² + kýōn dog (see hound¹); so called because it rises just before Sirius, the Dog Star

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for procyon

Historical Examples of procyon

I'm going to Procyon on the Valhalla at the end of this week.
Starman's Quest
Robert Silverberg
Canopus and Deneb, Rigel and Procyon, he would visit them all.
Starman's Quest
Robert Silverberg
And the Valhalla was still bound on its long journey to Procyon.
Starman's Quest
Robert Silverberg
The agouara (Procyon cancrivorus) is frequently met with in Mexico.
Adventures of a Young Naturalist
Lucien Biart
Another predicted one, belonging to Procyon, has not yet been seen.
Pioneers of Science
Oliver Lodge

British Dictionary definitions for procyon

Procyon

noun

the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor, a binary with a very faint companion. Visual magnitude: 0.34; spectral type: F5IV; distance: 114 light years

Word Origin for Procyon

C17: via Latin from Greek Prokuōn literally: before the Dog, from pro- ² + kuōn dog; so named because it rises just before Sirius, the Dog Star

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for procyon

Procyon

bright star in constellation Canis Minoris, 1650s, from Latin, from Greek prokyon, from pro "before" (see pro-) + kyon "dog" (see canine (n.)); so called from its rising just before the "Dog Star," Sirius. By Roman astronomers, sometimes Latinized as Antecanis.

procyon in Science

Procyon

[prō′sē-ŏn′]

A very bright binary star in the constellation Canis Minor, with an apparent magnitude of 0.34. Scientific name: Alpha Canis Minoris.