Canis Minor

noun

Canis Mi·​nor ˌkā-nəs-ˈmī-nər 

ˌka-

: a constellation to the east of Orion containing Procyon

Examples of Canis Minor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Looking directly upwards from Sirius, a bit more than halfway up the sky, one sees Procyon, the bright star of Canis Minor, the Little Dog. —Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2025

The third star in the Winter Triangle is Procyon, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor, the little dog. —Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2025

Canis Major is below Orion (to its south and east) while Canis Minor is to the east (on Orion's right, the observer's left). —Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 27 Dec. 2024

Made up of Sirius in the constellation Canis Major, Procyon in the constellation Canis Minor and Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion, this celestial triangle often features prominently in the winter sky. —Denise Chow, NBC News, 13 Dec. 2024

The celestial triangle is made up of Sirius in the constellation of Canis Major, Procyon in the constellation of Canis Minor and Betelgeuse in the constellation of Orion. —Denise Chow, NBC News, 7 Dec. 2024

The Winter Triangle is formed by three bright stars: Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky in the constellation Canis Major, Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star in Orion, and Procyon in the constellation Canis Minor. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

There’s the great Orion himself, surrounded by his cast of characters like Taurus the Bull, Auriga the chariot driver, Gemini the Twins, Lepus the Killer Rabbit, Canis Minor the Little Dog, and Canis Major, the Big Dog. —Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 4 Feb. 2024

Now go back towards the horizon to Procyon (in Canis Minor). —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Latin (genitive Canis Minoris), literally, lesser dog

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Canis Minor

• airliner
• combiner
• designer
• diviner
• eyeliner
• headliner
• pulvinar
• recliner
• refiner
• diner
• finer
• liner