Vulpecula
/vʌlˈpɛkjʊlə/noun
A small northern constellation whose name means 'little fox.'
Did you know?Vulpecula was introduced in the 17th century, and its Latin name comes from the same root that gave English *fox*, making the constellation’s identity a tiny, ancient animal-name lifted straight into the heavens.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wĺ̥kʷos
“wolf”
Proto-Italic
PI
*wulkʷos
“wolf”
Latin
Latin
vulpes
“fox”
Latin
Latin
vulpicula
“little fox”
17th Century
Latin/English
Vulpecula
“the constellation 'the little fox'”