parhelion

noun

par·​he·​lion pär-ˈhēl-yən 

plural parhelia pär-ˈhēl-yə  or parhelions

: any of several bright spots often tinged with color that often appear on the parhelic circle on either side of the sun

called also sun dog

parhelic

pär-ˈhē-lik 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

Latin parelion, from Greek parēlion, from para- + hēlios sun — more at solar

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined above