I. A small dog or bitch, Plin. 32, 7, 26, § 79.—Hence,
B. Trop., of a passionate, quarrelsome woman, Plaut. Curc. 5, 1, 8; Gell. 4, 20, 3.—
II. Transf.
A. Canis Minor, the lesser dogstar, in the mouth of the constellation Canis, q. v., Plin. 2, 47, 47, § 123; 18, 28, 68, § 268: “flagrans,” Hor. C. 3, 13, 9: “flammans,” Manil. 5, 207: “rubra,” Hor. S. 2, 5, 39: “sitiens,” Ov. A. A. 2, 231: “insana,” Pers. 3, 5: “caniculae aestus,” Hor. C. 1, 17, 17.—Trop., of Diogenes: “illa canicula Diogenes,” Tert. adv. Marc. 11; cf. capella.—
B. A kind of sea-dog (cf. canis, II. B.), Plin. 9, 46, 70, § 151 sq.—
C. The worst throw with dice, the dog throw; opp. to Venus (v. canis, II. C., and alea), Pers. 3, 49.
