dog days

dog days
dog days 1530s, from L. dies caniculares, from Greek; so called because they occur around the time of the heliacal rising of SIRIUS (Cf. Sirius), the Dog Star (kyon seirios). Noted as the hottest and most unwholesome time of the year; usually July 3 to Aug. 11, but variously calculated, depending on latitude and on whether the greater Dog-star (Sirius) or the lesser one (Procyon) is reckoned. The heliacal rising of Sirius has shifted down the calendar with the precession of the equinoxes; in ancient Egypt c.3000 B.C.E. it coincided with the summer solstice, which also was the new year and the beginning of the inundation of the Nile. The "dog" association apparently began here (the star's hieroglyph was a dog), but the reasons for it are obscure.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dog Days — ドッグ・デイズ Жанр приключения Аниме сериал …   Википедия

  • Dog days — dog days dog days A period of from four to six weeks, in the summer, variously placed by almanac makers between the early part of July and the early part of September; canicular days; so called in reference to the rising in ancient times of the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dog-days — dog days dog days A period of from four to six weeks, in the summer, variously placed by almanac makers between the early part of July and the early part of September; canicular days; so called in reference to the rising in ancient times of the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dog days — {n. phr.} The hottest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere (July and August). (The ancient Romans associated this time with the Dog Star Sirius which becomes visible in the heavens at this time of year.) * / The dog days are upon us, John… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • dog days — {n. phr.} The hottest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere (July and August). (The ancient Romans associated this time with the Dog Star Sirius which becomes visible in the heavens at this time of year.) * / The dog days are upon us, John… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Dog Days (EP) — Dog Days EP by Goatsnake Released 2000 Recorded 1997 1999 …   Wikipedia

  • dog days — dog ,days noun plural LITERARY 1. ) the hottest days of the year 2. ) a period when nothing much happens: dog days of: American cars have made a rousing comeback since the dog days of the early 1980s …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Dog Days — 公式サイト Type Shônen Genre Action, Fantastique Thèmes Aventure Anime japonais : Dog Days Réalisateur Keizō Kusakawa …   Wikipédia en Français

  • dog days — n [plural] 1.) the hottest days of the year 2.) a period of time when something is not successful ▪ Few opera houses survived the dog days of the 1980s …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • dog days — are very hot summer days …   The small dictionary of idiomes

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”