Lepus

noun

Le·​pus ˈle-pəs 

ˈlē-

1

: a genus (the type of the family Leporidae) comprising the typical hares

2

astronomy : a constellation that is visible south of the constellation of Orion and that is represented by the figure of a hare

Tucked away directly south of Orion are two small constellations that are far enough off the galactic plane to show galaxies, but still contain clusters and nebular in our home galaxy. Lepus the Hare holds eight stars brighter than 4th magnitude, and the form of a rabbit can indeed be made out with some imagination.

—Tom Polakis, Astronomy, February 2003

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, hare

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