This collection of terms results from a request I received for the names of stars and lunar phases likely to have been in navigational use in the northwestern Mediterranean in the early 14th century. In my earlier work on a historical Mediterranean nautical dictionary I had, with some misgivings and primarily for lack of time, consciously avoided astronomical terms. This is a small beginning to fill that lacuna. English and French names are included for additional background.
I want especially to thank Dr. John O'Neill and the Hispanic Seminary of Medieval Studies in New York City for making available the electronic text-files of the prose works of Alfonso X, King of Castile and León.
This work has been updated, corrected, and expanded in my article "Astronomical Names in the Romance Languages of Western Europe from Late Antiquity to Early Modern Times", Romance Philology 73/2 (2019), 507-30.
1 words known to have been in use in late XIIIc. or early XIVc., based on written evidence
2 words very likely to have been in use in late XIIIc. or early XIVc., based on records in nearby languages and my gut feeling
a (before a date) ante
Acad. Diccionario de la lengua española of the Real Academia Española (1970)
Alfonso Electronic Texts of the Prose Works of Alfonso X, El Sabio (CDROM c1997)
Allen Star-Names (1899)
Appleton New Appleton Dict. of the English and Portuguese Languages (1964)
astro. astronomical
c (preceding a date) circa; (following a Roman numeral) century
CID Cambridge Italian Dictionary (1962)
Camões Os Lusíadas (1572)
Cat. Catalan
class. classical
Corom. Corominas Diccionario crítico etimológico (1981-4)
Dante Divina commedia (unless otherwise specified)
Dauzat [et al.] Nouveau dictionnaire étymologique (1971)
Eng. English
Fourquin [& Rigaud] Glossaire nautique de la langue d'Oc (2d. ed. 1994)
Fr. French
Isidore Etymologiæ (a636)
It. Italian
Lat. Latin
Lull Ramón Lull (or Llull) Tractat d'astronomia (c1297) ed. Jordi Gayà y Lola Badia, en Textos y estudios sobre astronomía española en el siglo XIII, ed. Juan Vernet (Barcelona: Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Univ. Autónoma de Barcelona, 1981)
med. medieval
Medina Libro de cosmographia (1538)
OED Oxford English Dictionary (2d. ed.)
pl. plural
Port. Portuguese
Prov. Provençal
REW Meyer-Lübke Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch (1968)
Sp. Spanish
Arcturus [= the star and its constellation Boötes, as well as the Bears (Ursae)]
Lat. Arcturus 'Arcturus, Boötes' (Late Lat. also Arturus ) < Greek Ἀρκτοῦρος 'guardian of the bear' (Ursa); (med.) Arcturus maior & minor (Ursa Major / Minor, c1200 Lambert)
Port. Arcturo 'Boötes; North Pole' (1572 Camões)
2Sp. Arturo (Acad.)
2Cat. Artur ('estel bover')
1Prov. "Arcturi es costellacio que VII estelas lasquals si movo environ de la tramontana" (1274, Fourquin)
2It. Arturo (XVIc. Ariosto, Allen); (poetic) 'the north; the guiding star' (CID)
Eng. (OED) c1374 Chaucer "sterres of arctour." 1382 Wyclif "Arture and Orion". 1398 Trevisa "Arthurus is a signe made of vij sterres..but properly Arthurus is a sterre sette behynde the tayle of the sygne that hyght Vrsa maior" and "Arcturus is comynly clepid in Englis Cherlemaynes wayne." 1468 Medulla Gram . in Cath. Angl. "Artophilaxe, the carle wensterre. Arturus , quoddam signum celeste: anglice, a carwaynesterre."
The name was applied originally to third brightest star in the sky, almost across the Pole from the Pleiades, and was extended to the constellation Boötes and to Ursa Major. The star's heliacal rising in the fall marked the beginning of the dangerous winter shipping season. Note possible confusion with King Arthur.
Boötes [= the constellation and its alpha Arcturus, and sometimes the Bear(s)]
Lat. Bootes (Cicero) < Greek Βοώτης; (med.) Boetes Artophilax (c1200 Lambert)
Port. Bootes (1572 Camões III.71; also Appleton)
1Sp. Bootes (1272-75 Alfonso General estoria I)
2It. Boöte
Boötes [type Lat. Arctophylax < Greek Ἀρκτοφύλαξ 'bear-ward, -watcher', i.e. the guardian of Ursa Major]
Lat. Arctophylax 'Boötes, (occasionally) Ursa'; "Arctophylax vulgo qui dicitur esse Bootes" (Cicero); also in Isidore; (med.) Boetes Artophilax (c1200 Lambert of St. Omer Liber Floridus)
1Sp. Archophilax (1272-75 Alfonso General estoria I)
2It. Artofilace (CID; and XVIc. Ariosto Satire)
Eng. 1468 Medulla Gram. in Cath. Angl. (OED) "Artophilaxe,the carle wensterre [i.e., Ursa Major]."
Boötes [type bovarius 'ox-driver', i.e. the plowman of the Septentriones, or the wagoner (see Ursa Major [type carrus]); see also Arcturus]
Lat. cf. bo(v)arius 'pertaining to cattle'
Port. Boieiro, Boiadero
2Sp. Boyero (astro., Acad.; c1330 Corom., not specif. astro.)
2Cat. Bover (astro.; XIIIc. as 'pastor de bous')
Fr. Bouvier
2It. Bovaro; cf. Venetian dial. stela boara (REW)
Eng. Wagoner (1590 Spenser (OED) "The Northerne wagoner had set His seuenfold teme behind the stedfast starre.")
Canicula [= Sirius, Canis Minor, Procyon; see also Dog-Star]
Lat. canicula 'Sirius, Canis Major, Procyon', lit. 'bitch'
Port. Canícula (popular name for Sirius); canicular (Appleton)
1Sp. canicula, dias caniculares (1272-75 Alfonso General Estoria I; and Acad.)
2Cat. canícula (hot period of four to six weeks in July and August); canicular (1490)
Fr. canicule 'dog-days' (1500, < It., Dauzat), caniculaire 'scorching'
1It. Canícola (cf. di canicular, c1310-14 Dante); cf. sotto la canicola 'in the midday sun' (CID)
Eng. (OED) 1538 Elyot "Canicula..a sterre, wherof canicular or dogge days be named Dies caniculares." (OED s.v. canicular) 1398 Trevisa "In the mydle of the monthe Iulius the Canicular dayes begyn." Eng. "Er the caniculere, the hounds ascende" (1420, Palladium of Husbandry, Allen)
"The days about the time of the heliacal rising of the Dog-star; noted from ancient times as the hottest and most unwholesome period of the year. They have been variously calculated, as depending on the greater dog-star (Sirius) or the lesser dog-star (Procyon); on the heliacal, or (by some in modern times) the cosmical rising of either of these (both of which also differ in different latitudes); and as preceding, following, or both preceding and following, one of these epochs; and their duration has been variously reckoned at from 30 to 54 days. In the latitude of Greenwich, the cosmical rising of Procyon now takes place about July 27, that of Sirius about Aug. 11; in Mediterranean latitudes, the former is somewhat later, the latter earlier. The heliacal rising is some days later than the cosmical; and all the phenomena now take place later in the year than in ancient times, owing to the precession of the equinoxes. Thus very different dates have been assigned for the dog-days, their beginning ranging from July 3 to Aug. 15. In current almanacs they are said to begin July 3 and end Aug. 11 (i.e. to be the 40 days preceding the cosmical rising of Sirius). The name (Gr. hemerai kynades, Lat. dies caniculares) arose from the pernicious qualities of the season being attributed to the 'influence'of the Dog-star; but it has long been popularly associated with the belief that at this season dogs are most apt to run mad." (OED s.v. dog-days)
Canis Major [the constellation and its alpha Sirius; see also Septentriones]
Lat. Canis Major 'Sirius, Canis Major', lit. 'greater dog'; sometimes simply Canis
Port. Cão Maior, Cães (1572 Camões); Cão Grande (Appleton)
1Sp. can mayor (c1250-1280 Alfonso); [can 'dog' was replaced by perro c1200-1400, Corom.]
2Cat. Ca Major
2It. Cane maggiore (Allen)
Eng. great dog (1594 OED),
Canis Minor [the (two-star) constellation and its alpha Procyon; see also Septentriones]
Lat. canis minusculus or minor 'Procyon, the lesser dog-star'
Port. Cão Menor; Cão Pequeno (Appleton)
1Sp. can menor (c1250-1280 Alfonso); (Canis Minor; Procyon; Acad.)
3Cat. [assumed] Ca Menor
2It. Cane minore (Allen)
Eng. (OED) Canis minor (1390); lesser dog (1676)
Canopus [the alpha of Carina, a part of Argo Navis (Allen 67)]
Lat. Canopus < Greek Κάνωπος
2 Sp. Canopo (Acad.), Canopus (1538 Medina)
Port. Canopo
2It. Canopo (a1513 Vespucci, Allen 190)
Eng. "And those isles be right where that the Red Sea departeth from the sea ocean. And in those isles men see there no stars so clearly as in other places. For there appear no stars, but only one clear star that men clepe Canapos" (c1500 Mandeville); "I saw three starres cauled Canopi, whereof two were exceadynge cleare", "there is scene a bryght Canopus of three starres of notable greatnesse" (1555 Eden tr. Vespucci, Allen)
A bright southern star used in navigation, not visible from the northern Mediterranean but only southward from approximately the latitude of the island of Rhodes.
Cassiopeia
Lat. Cassiopeia < Greek Κασσιόπεια, Κασσιόπη
Port. Cassiopeia (1572 Camões)
2Sp. casiope (as mythol. character; XIVc. Alfonso General estoria II); Casiopea (Acad.)
2It. Cassiopea
A circumpolar constellation notable because it lies almost across the north pole from Ursa Major, about 11 hours away.
constellation
Lat. (med.) constellatio (in astrol. sense; a636 Isidore of Seville)
Port. constelação
1Sp. co(n)stellation (in astrol. sense; 1259 Alfonso Cruces); constellacion (in astron. sense; 1277 Alfonso Astronomia)
1Cat. constel·lació; constil·lació & constilació (in astrol. sense; c1297 Lull Tractat p. 313)
1Fr. constellation (constelacion, in astrol. sense; 1265, Dauzat)
1Prov. costellacio (in astron. sense; 1274, Fourquin)
2It. costellazione
1Eng. c1320 (OED)
Originally "the configuration or position of 'stars' (i.e. planets) in regard to one another, as supposed to have 'influence' on terrestrial things; esp. their position at the time of a man's birth". (OED)
Cynosure [= Ursa Minor and sometimes the North Star and Kochab]
Lat. Cynosura 'Ursa Minor' < Greek κυνόσουρα 'bear's tail'
Port. Cinosura 'Orsa Menor' (1572 Camões; and Appleton)
1Sp. cinosura (1272-75 Alfonso General Estoria I); 'Osa Menor' (Acad.)
2Fr. cynosure (16c. Dauzat)
1It. cinosura (Ursa Minor; c1310-14 Dante)
Eng. 1596 (ref. to Ursa Minor & Pole-star; OED)
From 'North Star', the sense developed figuratively in all the languages to "something that serves for guidance or direction; a 'guiding star'... something that attracts attention by its brilliancy or beauty; a centre of attraction, interest, or admiration."(OED)
Dog-Star [see also Canicula, Canis]
Eng. (OED s.v. Dog-Star) 1579 E. K. "The Dogge starre , which is called Syrius, or Canicula reigneth." Eng. (OED s.v. dog) 'The name of two constellations, the Great and Little Dog (Canis Major and Minor).' 1551 Recorde "Northe almost from this Dogge is ther a constellation of 2 only starres named Canicula, the lesser Dogge ." Eng. 1420 "Er the caniculere, the hounds ascende" (Palladium of Husbandry, Allen)
"The star Sirius, in the constellation of the Greater Dog, the brightest of the fixed stars. Also applied to Procyon (the Lesser Dog-star), a star of the first magnitude in the Lesser Dog." (OED)
evening star
Lat. vesper 'evening; evening star; the west' (and adj. vespertinus ); Hesperus (< Greek ἕσπερος 'western')
Port. Véspero (1572 Camões); Héspero; estrela da tarde; estrêla Vésper / vespertina, Vésper(-o) (no *Hespero; Appleton)
1,2Sp. Héspero (Acad.; 1 espero, 1272-75 Alfonso General estoria I); 2 Véspero; estrella vespertina; lucero vespertino; lucero de la tarde (Acad.); lucero 'Venus' (Acad.)
Prov. 2 vespre (OED)
1,2It. 1 Vèspero (c1310-14 Dante; and CID), 2 Espero; stella della sera (CID)
Eng. Hesperus (c1374 Chaucer, OED), Vesper (1390 Gower, OED)
Guards [Ursa Minor beta (Kochab, the front guard), and gamma (Pherkad, the rear guard)]
Port. as duas guardas
2Sp. las guardas ("el estrella del norte y las guardas van vuelta al polo", 1538 Medina); 'nombre vulgar de los dos estrellas poteriores del cuadrilátero de la Osa Mayor [sic Mayor]' (Acad.)
Cat. (use of guards in telling time apparently codified by Ramon Llull 1286-95)
2It. guardiole, guardiane (both c1650; Allen)
Eng. Guardens (tr. from It., Eden 1555; Allen), "Guardian , or the Mouth of the Horne" (Eden 1561, tr. from Sp.; Allen), Guardes (Bourne 1574; OED)
When the guards are upright, the North Star (which is now about 1½ degrees from the Pole) is at the same elevation as the Pole. The position of the Guards relative to the Pole serve as a sky-clock.
Milky Way [type galaxia]
Late Lat. galaxias < Hellenistic Greek γαλαξίας κύκλος 'milky circle'
2Port. galáxia (Appleton)
2Sp. galaxía (late XVIc., Corom.)
1Cat. galàxia (c1297 Lull Tractat p. 259)
2Fr. galaxie (1557, Dauzat)
1It. Galassia (c1310-14 Dante)
Milky Way [type via lactea]
Lat. via lactea lit. 'milky road'
Port. Via-Láctea (1572 Camões); Via Látea (Appleton)
2Sp. Vía Láctea (1438 for lácteo)
2It. via Lattea (nome popolare della nostra galassia)
Fr. voie lactée (1398 for lacté, Dauzat)
Milky Way [type highway of St. James]
Port. Estrada de Santiago
2Sp. Camino de Santiago; (camino de sanctiago, 1538 Medina), Via de Santiago (OED); Camino de Santiago (Acad.)
2Cat. carrera del rey En Jaume
Fr. chemin (de) Saint-Jacques
1It. Via di santo Jacopo (c1307 Dante Convivio II. xv, OED), strada di San Giacomo ("sotto il segno galattico della strada di San Giacomo")
Eng. Way of St. James (OED s.v. Watling-street)
Forms in -m- are from the Vulgar Latin variant Jacomus of Jacobus < classical Latin Jacobus.
Our Galaxy was likened to the various routes leading across Europe to the shrine of Santiago (St. James) of Compostela in northwestern Spain. The shrine was very popular in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
morning star
Lat. cf. matutinus 'pertaining to the morning'
Port. estrêla d'alva / da manhã / matutina (Appleton)
Sp. lucero de alba / de la mañana (Acad.)
Cat. Estel del Matí
1It. stella mattutina (c1310-14 Dante)
North Star (types stella maris, stella polaris, polus arcticus, stella nautica)
Lat. polus; (med.) stella maris (applied by Jerome c420 to the Virgin Mary; Allen)
Port. estrêla polar (Appleton)
Sp. (estrella del) norte (1538 Medina), estrella polar (Acad.); note Sp. norte (1490, Corom.); cf. tomar la estrella (to take the altitude of the North Star; Acad.)
Cat. Estel Polar; Stella Maris (1286-95 Llull, Taylor)
Prov. doas estelas so / la I de vas aguilo / Loqual apela hom artic (1288, Fourquin) [and see pole]
It. stella polare (CID)
Eng. pole starre or northe starre (1555 Eden, OED)
North Star (type transmontana)
Lat. transmontana 'from beyond the mountains'
Port. tramontana (North Star; Appleton); note perder a tramontana 'become disoriented'
1Sp. trasmontana (a1250-80 Alfonso Lapidario); tramontana (1502, prob. < Cat. tramuntana XIII, Corom.); and note perder uno la tramontana 'become disoriented'
1Cat. tramuntà ('nord, punt cardinal', XIVc.); and note perdre el nord
Fr. tresmontaigne, 'pole star' (c1200 Guiot de Provins, Hope Lexical Borrowing; other meanings are recorded later in Fr.); OF. tresmontaine (c 1295 in Godefroy, OED)
1Prov. tramontana ("Polus arthic es aquela estela que tota temps appar de mar appelada o tramontana" 1274, Fourquin)
1It. la tramontana (1299 Marco Polo); "La stella tramontana o l'orsa maggiore & minore" (a1513 Vespucci, Allen); and note perdere la tramontana 'become disoriented'; tramontare 'to set (e.g., the sun)'
Eng. tramontane: "Sterre Transmontane, that is clept the Sterre of the See" (1366 Mandeville; Allen)
Presumably so called because to Italian observers it appeared across the Alps.
Orion
Lat. Orion < Greek Ὠρίων (the mythical hunter)
Port. Oríon or Órion (Appleton); Orionte (1572 Camões); Orião (Appleton)
1Sp. Orión (c1277 Alfonso Astronomia) "Orion llaman en latin a esta figura que es la segunda delas que son de parte de medio dia. Et en castellano le dizen vrion.")
2Cat. Orió
2It. Orione (CID)
Eng. (OED) 1382 Wyclif (s.v. Arcturus); 1398 Trevisa "Orion is a moost notable Constellacyon by cause of hugenesse and also of fayrnesse, and it is shape in the ordre of sterres as knighte gyrde wyth a swerde."
Orion's belt
Port. as três Marias (in Brazil), os (três ) Reis (in Portugal); boldrié de Orião (Appleton)
Sp. los tres reyes, las tres Marías, cinturón de Orión (Acad.)
It. cintura di Orione, i tre Re Magi, i tre Re, il rastrello [rake], i bastoni, i tre mercanti.
The three closely spaced stars aligned in the middle of the constellation.
planet [the 'wandering' stars (as contrasted with the 'fixed' stars) included the moon and sun as well as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn]
Lat. planeta (< Greek πλάνητες 'wanderers')
2Port. planeta
1Sp. planeta (1277 Alfonso Astronomia)
1Cat. planeta (c1297 Lull Tractat p. 237)
1It. pianeta (c1310-14 Dante)
Pleiades
Lat. Pleïades < Greek Πλειάδες
Port. as Plêiades, Sete-Estrelo
1Sp. pliades (dezimos les las siete cabrillas; 1272-75 Alfonso General Estoria); Pléyades, -das (Acad.); "las Pléyades..conocido como las siete hermanas o las siete cabrillas"; cabrillas (Acad.)
2Cat. les Plèiades
2It. plèiadi (CID)
Eng. schynynge sterris Pliades (1388 Wyclif, OED)
The season between the heliacal rising of the Pleiades in the spring (bringing rain) and their setting in the fall was considered favorable for sailing.
pole [see also North Star]
Lat. polus < Greek πόλος pivot, axis, axis of the celestial sphere (Plato), end of this axis (Aristotle), the sky, in Hellenistic Greek also the pole star (OED)
Port. pólo norte / ártico / boreal (Appleton)
1Sp. polo septentrional (1277 Alfonso Astronomia); "este que vemos se llama por estos nombres polo artico / septentrional / boreal" (1538 Medina); polo ártico (Acad.)
1Cat. pol (nord) (c1380); lo polus (c1297 Lull Tractat p. 316)
1Prov. polus arthic (es aquela estela que totz temps appar) (1274, Fourquin)
1It. polo (c1310-14 Dante)
Eng. (OED) c1391 Chaucer "The heyhte of owre pool Artik fro owre north Orisonte." 1398 Trevisa "Polus is a fulle litel sterre."
Procyon [see also Canis Minor, Dog-Star]
Lat. Procyon < Greek Προκύων, lit. '[rising] before the dog(-star)'
Port. Prócion (Appleton)
Sp. Proción (Acad.)
It. Procióne (CID)
Eng. (1658 'lesser Dog-Star', OED)
Septentriones [= Ursa Major and sometimes Ursa Minor]
Lat. septentriones (< septem 'seven' + triones 'plow-oxen') 1. (alone) Ursa Major; 2. (with maior) Ursa Major, (with minor) Ursa Minor
Lat. (med.) "Arcton...Nomen est Graecum, quod Latine dicitur ursa; quae quia in modum plaustri vertitur, nostri eam Septentrionem Dixerunt... Septentriones autem non occidere axis vicinitas facit, quia in eo sunt." (a636 Isidore of Seville)
Port. setentrião ('o pólo norte' [et al.] but not specif. the star)
1Sp. septentrión 'Osa Mayor, polo ártico, norte, viento del norte' (Acad.); septentrion (mayor and menor; 1272-75 Alfonso General estoria I); "Septentrional se llama de las siete estrellas que estan cerca deste polo." (1538 Medina)
2Cat. septentrió (Ursa Major and Minor)
2It. settentrion[e] ('north', c1310-14 Dante); 'Ursa Major' (obsol.; CID)
Eng. (OED) septemtrio (a1000; = Charles' Wain; see Ursa Major), septemtrioun 'north' (c1386, Chaucer), septentrions 'Ursa Major', rarely 'Ursa Minor'(1532)
Sirius (see also Canicula, Dog-Star)
Lat. Sirius < Greek Σείριος
Port. Sírio (vulgarmente chamada Canícula)
1Sp. Sirio (1272-75 Alfonso General estoria I); Sirio and Can Mayor (Acad.)
2It. Sírio; cf. stellone 'big star; dog-days' (CID)
Eng. c1374 (Chaucer, OED)
The brightest star in the sky, whose heliacal rising brings the dog-days.
star [type astro]
Lat. astrum 'star; planet; constellation' < Greek ἄστρον
Port. astro
2Sp. astro (mid XVIc. Corom.)
1Cat. astre (XIIIc.)
2Prov. astre (REW)
1It. astro (c1310-14, infreq., Dante)
star [type stella]
Lat. stella 'star; constellation'; (med., England) stella fixa (a1254 Robertus Grosseteste De sphaera)
Port. estrela (fixa)
1Sp. estrellas (fixas) (1277 Alfonso Astronomia)
1Cat.estel (fixo) (XIV); estela (archaic & dial., XIV); les stellas ficxes (pl., c1297 Lull Tractat p. 218), stales (ibid. 223, astella (ibid. 237)
1It. stella (fissa) (c1310-14 Dante)
Eng. c1391 Chaucer (section heading) "The sterres fixe." (OED)
Fixed stars were those that appeared firmly fixed in their positions, as against the planets, and the moon and the Sun (which, as they were wanderers too, were reckoned among the planets). The fixed stars were situated in the eighth heaven or sphere, known also as the firmament.
Sun
Lat. sol 1Port. sol 1Sp. sol (c1140, Corom.) 1Cat. sol (XIVc.) 1It. sole
Sole occupant of the fourth heaven.
Ursa [see also Septentriones]
Lat. ursa lit. 'she-bear'; and cf. Lat. Arctos (either of the Bears or both; < Greek ἄρκτος 'bear')
Port. as Ursas (1572 Camões); arctos (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor; Appleton)
2Sp. las dos Osas
1It. l'Orse (c1310-14 Dante)
Eng. (OED) c888 K. Ælfred Boeth. "Ne se steorra þe we hatath Ursa ne cymth næfre on þam westdæle." c1374 Chaucer Boeth. "þe sterre yclepid þe bere... þe same sterre vrsa."
Ursa Major
Lat. Ursa Major, lit. 'greater bear'
Port. Ursa Maior
1Sp. Osa Mayor (a1284 Alfonso Partida IV), mayor osa (1538 Medina)
2Cat. Óssa Major
2It. Orsa Maggiore (a1513 Vespucci, Allen)
Eng. (OED) 1398 Trevisa "Arthurus is a sterre sette behynde the tayle of the sygne that hyght Vrsa maior."
Ursa Major [type Lat. carrus 'wagon, wain']
Port. carro (de David) ("às principais estrelas da Ursa Maior, ou seja, aquelas sete que formam o grupo do grande carro "); carreta 'Ursa Maior' (?; 1572 Camões; so identified by Allen and by Appleton; nothing s.v. carro)
1Sp. Carro (1272-75 Alfonso General estoria I)
2Cat. Carro
1It. Carro (c1310-14 Dante), Grande Carro; Carro di Boote 'Ursa Major' (CID)
Eng. a1000 Ags. Man. Astron. "Arhcton hatte an tungol on north dæle, se hæfth; seofon steorran and is ge-haten septemtrio, þone hatath læwede menn Carleswæn." 1398 Trevisa "Arcturus is comynly clepid in Englis Cherlemaynes wayne."
"The asterism comprising the seven bright stars in Ursa Major; known also as The Plough. As the name Arcturus was formerly sometimes applied loosely to the constellation Boötes and incorrectly to the Great Bear, the name Carlewayne-sterre occurs applied to the star Arcturus." (OED)
Ursa Major [type Lat. helice < Greek ἕλιξ]
Lat. (class. & med.) "Arctophylax dictus, quod Arcton, id est Helicem Vrsam, sequitur" (a636 Isidore of Seville)
1Sp. elice (1272-75 Alfonso General estoria)
1It. Helice (c1310-14 Dante)
So named for its revolving around the Pole; cf. Eng. helix.
Ursa Minor
Lat. Ursa Minor 'lesser bear'
Port. Ursa Menor
1Sp. Osa Menor (a1284 Alfonso Partida IV)
2Cat. Óssa Menor
2It. Orsa Minore ("La stella tramontana o l'orsa maggiore & minore" a1513 Vespucci, Allen)
Used to locate the Pole and as the hour-hand of the sky-clock.
full moon
Lat. luna plena
2Port. Lua cheia
2Sp. luna llena
2Cat. lluna plena
2It. luna pien
gibbous
Port. giba 'cada uma das duas fases secundárias da Lua entre os quartos e o novilúnio'
Sp. giboso 'humped' (not specif. astro.; 13c., Corom.)
Cat. gibós (not specif. astro.; XVc.)
It. gibboso, gobbo (not specif. astro.; CID)
moon
1Port. Lua 1Sp. luna 1Cat. Lluna; Lune (c1297 Lull Tractat p. 315) 1It. luna
The moon, the knowledge of whose phases was important in the prediction of tides, moved in the first heaven, or sphere, above the earth.
new moon
Lat. luna nova
2Port. Lua nova
2Sp. luna nueva
1Cat.Lluna nova; le lune nove (pl.; c1297 Lull Tractat p. 231)
1It. nuova luna (c1310-14 Dante); fa la luna 'it is new moon' (Hoare); luna nuova (CID)
old moon [waning crescent]
Sp. luna vieja 'cuarta menguante'
1Cat. le lune vella (pl.; c1297 Lull Tractat p. 231)
It. luna vecchia
Fr. lune vielle
quarter
2Port. quarto
2Sp. cuarto (de luna)
2Cat. quart (creixent, minvant)
2It. quarto (di luna)
waning
Port. minguante (quarto minguante 'last quarter')
1Sp. menguante (cuarto menguante 'last quarter'); luna mengua[n]do (c1254 Alfonso Judizos), luna menguante (1277 Alfonso Astronomia)
1Cat. (lluna) minvant; minvament (noun, c1297 Lull Tractat p. 240)
2It. calante (proverb "gobba a ponente luna crescente, gobba a levante luna calante")
waxing
Port. crescente (quarto crescente 'first quarter')
1Sp. creciente (cuarto creciente 'first quarter'); luna crecient (c1250-80 Alfonso Lapidaria)
1Cat. (lluna) creixent; craximent (noun, c1297 Lull Tractat p. 240)
2It. (luna) crescente
Andromeda
Lat. Andromeda < Greek Άνδρομέδη
Port. Andrómeda (1572 Camões)
Sp. Andrómeda (XIVc. Alfonso General estoria II)
Cat. Andrómeda
It. Andromeda
Eng. 1706 (OED)
Boötes [type pastor 'shepherd']
Port. Pastor
Sp. Pastor
It. Pastore
Centaurus
Lat. Centaurus < Greek κένταυρος
Sp. Centauro
Port. Centauro
It. Centáuro
Eng. 16-17c. (OED)
Hadar [Arab. 'ground'; α and β of Centaurus (Allen); cf. حضر (ḥaḍar) 'settled, civilized territory' (Wehr, Arabic-English Dict. ed. 4)]
Sp. Adara ('estrella notable en la constelación del Can Mayor', Acad.)
Hercules
Lat. Hercules < Greek Ἡρακλῆς
Port. Hércules
Sp. Hércules
Cat. Hèrcules
It. Ercole (Allen)
Eng. 1674 (OED)
Hyades
Lat. Hyades < Greek ὑάδες
Sp. Hyades
Kochab [alpha of Ursa Minor; front Guard; formerly North Star; age of following names undetermined. Probably < Arabic الکوکب (al-kawkab) 'star' (An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics, English-French-Persian, http://aramis.obspm.fr/~heydari/dictionary/index.php?showAll=1&formSearchTextfield=Kochab). But possibly Hebrew?]
Port. Kochab
Sp. Kochab
It. Kocha
Pegasus
Lat. Pegasus < Greek Πήγασος
Sp. Pegaso
Cat. pegàs (not specif. astro.)
Port. Pégaso
It. Pègaso
Eng. 1696 (OED)
Pollux
Lat. Pollux < Greek Πολυδεύκης
Port. Pólux (estrela da constelação dos Gémeos, ao lado de Castor)
Sp. Pólux; Pollus (XIVc. Alfonso General estoria II)
It. Pollúce
Ursa Minor [type little wain]
Port. carreta (?; 1572 Camões)
It. piccolo carro
Ursa Minor [type horn]
Sp. bocina
It. corno (c1310-14 Dante; a1513 Vespucci, Allen)
It. bogina (Allen)
Eng. Horne (1555 Eden tr. Vespucci, Allen)
Vega
Lat. Vega < Arabic نسر ال]واقع] ([nasr al-]wāqiʿ) “[the vulture] perched” (F. Viré, "Nasr," Encyclopaedia of Islam, ed. 2)
Port. Vega
Sp. Vega
Eng. 1638 (OED)
Isidore of Seville
Etymologiæ VIII. ix. 24 (a636)
Mathematici..cuius superstitionis genus Constellationes Latini vocant, id est notationes siderum, quomodo se habeant cum quis nascitur
Lambert of St. Omer
Liber Floridus (c1200)
Arcturus Maior "h<abe>t stellas in capite"; Arcturus Minor h<abe>t stellas in uno latere IIII claras in q<ua>d\r/o positas
Marco Polo
Il Milione chap. 162
quest'isola [Iava = Java] è tanto verso mezzodie che la tramontana non si vede, né poco né assai.
Il Milione chap. 163
Ed io Marco Polo vi [Samarra = Sumatra] dimórai 5 mesi per lo mal tempo che mi vi tenea, e ancora la tramontana no si vedea, né le stelle del maestro.
Il Milione chap. 179
Melibar [= Malabar on the coast of India]... Di questo paese si vede piú la tramontana.
Dante Alighieri
Inferno: Canto I
Ma poi ch'i' fui al piè d'un colle giunto,
là dove terminava quella valle
che m'avea di paura il cor compunto,
guardai in alto, e vidi le sue spalle
vestite già de' raggi del pianeta
che mena dritto altrui per ogne calle.
Inferno: Canto XI
Ma seguimi oramai, che 'l gir mi piace;
ché i Pesci guizzan su per l'orizzonta,
e 'l Carro tutto sovra 'l Coro giace,
e 'l balzo via là oltra si dismonta».
Inferno: Canto XV
quando incontrammo d'anime una schiera
che venìan lungo l'argine, e ciascuna
ci riguardava come suol da sera
guardare uno altro sotto nuova luna;
Inferno: Canto XXV
Come 'l ramarro sotto la gran fersa
dei dì canicular, cangiando sepe,
folgore par se la via attraversa,
Inferno: Canto XXVI
e volta nostra poppa nel mattino,
de' remi facemmo ali al folle volo,
sempre acquistando dal lato mancino.
Tutte le stelle già de l'altro polo
vedea la notte e 'l nostro tanto basso,
che non surgea fuor del marin suolo.
Purgatorio: Canto I
I' mi volsi a man destra, e puosi mente
a l'altro polo, e vidi quattro stelle
non viste mai fuor ch'a la prima gente.
Goder pareva 'l ciel di lor fiammelle:
oh settentrional vedovo sito,
poi che privato se' di mirar quelle!
Com'io da loro sguardo fui partito,
un poco me volgendo a l 'altro polo,
là onde il Carro già era sparito,
Purgatorio: Canto III
Vespero è già colà dov'è sepolto
lo corpo dentro al quale io facea ombra
Purgatorio: Canto IV
Ond'elli a me: «Se Castore e Poluce
fossero in compagnia di quello specchio
che sù e giù del suo lume conduce,
tu vedresti il Zodiaco rubecchio
ancora a l'Orse più stretto rotare,
se non uscisse fuor del cammin vecchio.
Purgatorio: Canto IV
che 'l mezzo cerchio del moto superno,
che si chiama Equatore in alcun'arte,
e che sempre riman tra 'l sole e 'l verno,
per la ragion che di' , quinci si parte
verso settentrion, quanto li Ebrei
vedevan lui verso la calda parte.
Purgatorio: Canto XXX
Quando il settentrion del primo cielo,
che né occaso mai seppe né orto
né d'altra nebbia che di colpa velo,
e che faceva lì ciascun accorto
di suo dover, come 'l più basso face
qual temon gira per venire a porto,
fermo s'affisse: la gente verace,
venuta prima tra 'l grifone ed esso,
al carro volse sé come a sua pace;
e un di loro, quasi da ciel messo,
'Veni, sponsa, de Libano' cantando
gridò tre volte, e tutti li altri appresso.
Paradiso: Canto XIII
Imagini, chi bene intender cupe
quel ch'i' or vidi - e ritegna l'image,
mentre ch'io dico, come ferma rupe -,
quindici stelle che 'n diverse plage
lo ciel avvivan di tanto sereno
che soperchia de l'aere ogne compage;
imagini quel carro a cu' il seno
basta del nostro cielo e notte e giorno,
sì ch'al volger del temo non vien meno;
imagini la bocca di quel corno
che si comincia in punta de lo stelo
a cui la prima rota va dintorno,
aver fatto di sé due segni in cielo,
qual fece la figliuola di Minoi
allora che sentì di morte il gelo;
e l'un ne l'altro aver li raggi suoi,
e amendue girarsi per maniera
che l'uno andasse al primo e l'altro al poi;
e avrà quasi l'ombra de la vera
costellazione e de la doppia danza
che circulava il punto dov'io era:
poi ch'è tanto di là da nostra usanza,
quanto di là dal mover de la Chiana
si move il ciel che tutti li altri avanza.
Paradiso: Canto XIV
Come distinta da minori e maggi
lumi biancheggia tra ' poli del mondo
Galassia sì, che fa dubbiar ben saggi;
sì costellati facean nel profondo
Marte quei raggi il venerabil segno
che fan giunture di quadranti in tondo.
Paradiso: Canto XV
e pare stella che tramuti loco,
se non che da la parte ond'e' s'accende
nulla sen perde, ed esso dura poco:
tale dal corno che 'n destro si stende
a piè di quella croce corse un astro
de la costellazion che lì resplende;
Paradiso: Canto XXii
L'aiuola che ci fa tanto feroci,
volgendom'io con li etterni Gemelli,
tutta m'apparve da' colli a le foci;
poscia rivolsi li occhi a li occhi belli.
Paradiso: Canto XXV
Poscia tra esse un lume si schiarì
sì che, se 'l Cancro avesse un tal cristallo,
l'inverno avrebbe un mese d'un sol dì.
Paradiso: Canto XXVIII
L'altro ternaro, che così germoglia
in questa primavera sempiterna
che notturno Ariete non dispoglia,
perpetualemente 'Osanna' sberna
con tre melode
Paradiso: Canto XXIX
Quando ambedue li figli di Latona,
coperti del Montone e de la Libra,
fanno de l'orizzonte insieme zona,
Paradiso: Canto XXXI
i barbari, venendo da tal plaga
che ciascun giorno d'Elice si cuopra,
rotante col suo figlio ond'ella è vaga
Paradiso: Canto XXXII
Così ricorsi ancora a la dottrina
di colui ch'abbelliva di Maria,
come del sole stella mattutina.
Alfonso X el Sabio (d. 1284)
Astronomia (c1277)
fol. 5v.
Orion llaman en latin a esta figura que es la segunda delas que son de parte de medio dia. Et en castellano le dizen vrion.
fol. 6v.
dos estrellas que son dela constellacion de vrion
fol. 17v.
Mas las de denoche sopieron por las otras seys planetas; & por las estrellas fixas.
fol. 25v.
quando la luna es bien menguante en los postremeros dias del Mes lunar.
General estoria (1272-75)
I. 23v.
una estrella de occide<n>t. q<ue> paresce de q<u>a`ndo se pone el sol. &' por q<ue> esta estrella a no<m>bre espero.
I. 50r.
las estrellas`Sirio. & esta es ala q<ue> dizen canicula dond son llamados los dias canic<u>lares.
I. 94r.
como athlas Rey de Espan<n>a ouo de su mugier Pleyone siete fijas q<ue> fuero<n> llamadas dos dellas o tres. o mas o todas en uno Pliades. & tenemos q<ue> son aq<ue>llas siete q<ue> andan siempre ayuntadas en uno & dezimos les las siete cabrillas .
I. 270v.
el mayor signo destos ouo despues nombre el mayor septe<n>trio<n> . &' el menor. el menor septent<r>i`on. % &' o(o)trossi al mayor dixiero<n> el mayor Arcos. &' al menor el menor arcos. % Otrossi de cabo al mayor dellos llamaro<n> por mayoria. & aua<n>taia. estos q<u>a`tro no<m>bres. Ossa . septe<n>trio<n>. Carro. & Elice. Et al menor dixiero<n> estos q<u>a`tro. Cinosura. Bootes . Archophilax. & phenice.
I. 275v.
Tomaro<n> destos nombres canicul<us> o canicula. este otro nombre Caniculares & diero<n> le a aq<ue>llos` sesaenta & dos dias q<ue> el sol pone en passar aq<ue>l signo. &' daq<u>i` les llaman los dias caniculares.
Lapidario (c1250-1280)
fol. 1r.
& otras figuras muchas que estan en el ochauo cielo que son figuradas otrossi de estrellas. las unas a parte de septentrion q<ue> es ala estrella q<ue> llaman trasmontana.
Libro de las cruces (1259)
fol. 4.v.
es mucho p<ro>uechable en las costellationes de las reuolutiones [^&] de las coniunctiones de las planetas. & en los compec'amentos de los regnos. & de los sennorios. & como se camian. & en los accidentes del ayre. que los fechos. & los poderes de las planetas non parec'en si non segunde son sus constellationes.
Siete partidas
Partida IV, Título VI. De La Figura De La Osa Mayor
Pues que dicho habemos de la Osa menor, que es la primera figura del cielo de parte de septentrión, quercmos agora decir de la Osa mayor, que es la segunda figura de aquella parte mesma, et es cuanto de faición tal cuemo esta otra primera, mas es mayor de cuerpo, et ha en ella más estrellas de dentro en la figura et de fuera, ca de dentro ha XVII, et de fuera ha VIII.
Luís Vaz de Camões
Os Lusíadas (1572)
I. 21
Ali se acharam juntos num momento
Os que habitam o Arcturo congelado
V. 15
Assim passando aquelas regiões
Por onde duas vezes passa Apolo,
Dois invernos fazendo e dois verões,
Enquanto corre dum ao outro Pólo,
Por calmas, por tormentas e opressões,
Que sempre f az no mar o irado Eolo,
Vimos as Ursas, apesar de Juno,
Banharem-se nas águas de Netuno.
X. 88 - (as Constelações)
Olha por outras partes a pintura
Que as Estrelas fulgentes vão fazendo:
Olha a Carreta, atenta a Cinosura,
Andrómeda e seu pai, e o Drago horrendo;
Vê de Cassiopeia a fermosura
E do Orionte o gesto turbulento;
Olha o Cisne morrendo que suspira,
A Lebre e os Cães, a Nau e a doce Lira .
X. 125
Mas, na ponta da terra, Cingapura
Verás, onde o caminho às naus se estreita;
Daqui tornando a costa à Cinosura,
Se encurva e pera a Aurora se endireita.
Confusion in the use of names between constellations and their lucidæ, and between one (modern) constellation and another.
Differences in the star-figures referred to, e.g., bear vs. wagon (both in Ursa Major)
There was little or no distinction made between observational astronomy and astrology, in the modern senses of the words.
Different registers (not mutually exclusive):
popular: North Star [type Tramontana], Milky Way [types Via Lactea, Highway of St. James], star [type stella])
technical: Canopus, constellation, pole, star [type astrum]
literary: Cassiopeia, Milky Way [type Galaxy]
Origin and migration of terms:
Terms generally inherited from Latin: moon, new moon, Septentriones, Arcturus
Terms originating in Italy: North Star [type Tramontana]
Terms originating in Iberia: guards, Milky Way [type Highway of St. James]
Position of Portuguese: development of terminology probably didn't begin in earnest until the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325), nephew of Alfonso el Sabio. He founded the University of Coimbra in 1290, and, in 1317, engaged Genoese admiral Emmanuele Pesagno to build up his navy (Encyc. Brit.). Genoese trading companies had Genoese agents in Spain and Portugal at least from the XIIIc., and Genoese ships called often at Iberian ports throughout the Middle Ages. Though I don't have ready access to enough material to make judgments about medieval Portuguese, I assume that Spanish and Italian nautical and astronomical terms were important parts of the Portuguese vocabulary.
Circumpolar (of a star or constellation): close enough to the pole as always to be in the sky, never rising or setting. The further north the observer is in the northern hemisphere, the more stars are circumpolar.
Heliacal rising: the earliest date each year when a star can just barely be seen before the rising sun, beginning the season when it is visible in the night-sky.
Alfonsine Tables, set of astronomical tables prepared in Toledo, Spain, for King Alfonso X of León and Castile under the direction of Jehuda ben Moses Cohen and Isaac ben Sid. Completed in 1252, these tables were based on the Ptolemaic theory, which assumed that the Earth was at the centre of the solar system. They enabled astronomers to calculate eclipses and the positions of the planets for any given moment. The original form of the tables was cast into a handier arrangement in Paris around 1320, and manuscript copies of this version rapidly propagated throughout Europe. For more than two centuries they were considered the best astronomical tables available. They were first printed in 1483. The tables were an important source of information for the young Copernicus, but his own work superseded them in the 1550s. [Encyc. Brit.]
Un altre manuscrit conservat, també de temàtica científica, és el ms. ACA, Ripoll 225, titulat Tractat d'astronomia i del rellotge i que Beer identificà com el que en l'antic catàleg és encapçalat per l'epígraf Liber de horis; en aquest còdex es troba una part d'un Liber de Astrolabio, obra tradicionalment atribuïda a Gerbert perquè així ho afirmen fins a cinc manuscrits que la contenen; no obstant això, la presència al segle X a l'escriptori de Ripoll d'uns breus fragments titulats igual, permet intuir que, almenys, el punt de partença per als seus futurs estudis sobre l'astrolabi, el pogué trobar Gerbert a Ripoll mateix . Aquest manuscrit ha estat objecte de nombroses publicacions i és importantíssim, per tal com representa l'inici de la cadena de traduccions a partir d'obres àrabs i per tal com ens fa adonar que han estat els monjos de Ripoll els qui ja en el segle X han fet l'esforç d'assimilació de la ciència oriental segons les seves pròpies possibilitats i necessitats. El manuscrit conté, entre d'altres, cinc textos principals relacionats amb l'astrolabi: dos relatius a la manera de construir-lo o traçar-lo (De mensura astrolapsus i De mensura astrolabii), altres dos sobre els seus usos i aplicacions (les Astrolabii sententiae i el De utilitatibus astrolabii). http://ice.d5.ub.es/conferencies/llati.htm
Sacro Bosco De sphaera (Eng. trans. 1526-27)
Numerous explanatory drawings and tables appear throughout the manuscript, including 40 drawings of constellations: 1. f. 22v the grete bere; 2. f. 23v the lesse bere; 3. f. 24r the serpent or dragon; 4. f. 24v the arctophilax or bootes; 5. f. 25r crowne; 6. f. 25v hercules; 7. f. 26r lyra; 8. f. 26v swane; 9. f. 27r cepheus; 10. f. 27v cassiopea; 11. f. 28r andromeda; 12. f. 28v perseus; 13. f. 29r auriga or the carta; 14. f. 29v Ophiulcus or serpentarius; 15. f. 30r dart or shafte; 16. f. 30v Egle; 17. f. 31r delphyn; 18. f. 31v pegasse the horse; 19. f. 32r deltoton or the triangle; 20. f. 32v Rame; 21. f. 33r bull; 22. f. 33v geminj; 23. f. 34r crabe; 24. f. 34v lyon; 25. f. 35r virgen; 26. f. 35v scorpius and libra; 27. f. 36r sagyttary; 28. f. 36v capricorne; 29. f. 37r aquary; 30. f. 37v fysshes; 31. f. 38r gret whalle or monster off th^^e see; 32. f. 38v flude eridanus; 33. f. 39r hare; 34. f. 39v orion; 35. f. 40r the gret dogge; 36. f. 40v the lesse dogge; 37. f. 41r shype; 38. f. 41v centaury; 39. f. 42r ara; 40. f. 42v hydra. ( http://webtext.library.yale.edu/beinflat/pre1600/MS337.HTM)
Die "Jakobsstraße" ist nicht nur der Wallfahrtsweg nach Santiago de Compostela, sondern so wird auch die Milchstraße bezeichnet. Diese Bezeichnung hat sie von der "Jakobsleiter" her abgeleitet erhalten. Sie ist die Straße, die zu Gott führt. Eine weitere Herleitung hierfür ist die "Verwechslung von Galaxias mit Galicien". Somit wurde die Straße durch Galicien zur Straße durch die Galaxie, zur Milchstraße. W. von Wartburg weist darauf hin, daß die Richtung der Milchstraße am Himmel für die Pilger aus Frankreich und Mitteleuropa ungefähr nach Santiago zeigt. Daher sei in frommen Gemütern eine Verbindung zwischen dieser Himmelserscheinung und dem Pilgerweg nach Santiago hergestellt worden. "Die Milchstrasse erschien als der himmlische widerschein des weges dorthin." Als "Jakobsweg" werden die verschiedenen Pilgerstraßen durch Frankreich und Spanien (aber auch durch die Schweiz, die Benelux-Staaten und die BRD) genannt, die zum Grab des hl. Jakobus d.Ä. nach Santiago de Compostela führen. Nach dem Erscheinen des "Liber Sancti Jacobi" im 12.Jh. wurden in Frankreich besonders die 4 Hauptwege von Paris, Le Puy, Arles und Vézelay ausgehend als "Jakobswege" bezeichnet. W. von Wartburg gibt an, daß "Jacques" sekundär durch den Namen eines anderen Heiligen ersetzt wurde. Dieser Wechsel wurde dadurch möglich, daß der ursprüngliche Sinn von "chemin Saint-Jacques" verloren gegangen war. Auch die " strada di San Giacomo" oder die "strata di San Japicu" wie auch die "scala di S. Ghiabbicu di Gallici" oder auf Malorca die "carrera del rey En Jaume " und die "kaminu de santyagu" bezeichnen alle die "jakobstrasse". ( http://users.newsfactory.net/AZA-00944/sdc_jako.htm)
In tutta la Toscana..si indicavano ai bambini, con il nome di "tre mercanti", le tre stelle della cintura di Orione, apparire sull'orizzonte Est nei primi giorni di Dicembre, poco prima dell'ora di cena. Le tre stelle ogni giorno, alla stessa ora, venivano osservate divenire sempre più alte, verso Sud a ricordare i tre Re Magi che, partendo da oriente, si portarono in terra di Palestina. ( http://www.arcetri.astro.it/CDAs/homepages/S_marcello/articolo1.html)
E. G. R. Taylor The Haven-Finding Art (1971)
M. L. West Hesiod Works and Days (1978)
Nuevos estudios sobre astronomía española en el siglo de Alfonso X ed. Juan Vernet. Barcelona: Instituto de Filología, Institución "Milá y Fontanals", C.S.I.C., 1983
Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa On-Line
Garzanti Editore - Digita Web - Il dizionario italiano online
Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana
Columbia University Department of Italian