Mirfak

noun

Mir·​fak ˈmir-ˌfak 

ˈmər-

astronomy

: a yellow-white giant star of the second magnitude that is the brighest star in the constellation Perseus

She says that in former times, when the star we call Mirfak in the constellation Perseus began to approach the sun, it signaled the beginning of the buffalo's spring migrations through the gap.

—Ian Frazier, On The Rez, 2000

called also Alpha Persei

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

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