An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A group of seven stars, an → asterism, lying inside the Northern constellation → Ursa Major. They are:
→ Dubhe, → Merak, → Phad, → Megrez, → Alioth, → Mizar, and → Alkaid. The group is also known as the Plough in Great Britain.

Etymology (EN): → big; dipper a popular U.S. name for the asterism known in Britain as The Plough or Charles’ Wain, from dip O.E. dyppan “immerse,” from P.Gmc. *dupjanan.

Etymology (PE): Haft barâdarân “the seven brothers,” from haft “seven” (Mid.Pers. haft, Av. hapta, cf. Skt. sapta, Gk. hepta, L. septem, P.Gmc. *sebun, Du. zeven, O.H.G. sibun, Ger. sieben, E. seven; PIE *septm)

• barâdarân, plural of barâdar “brother” (Mid.Pers. brad, bardar, O.Pers./Av. brātar-, cf. Skt. bhrátar-, Gk. phrater, L. frater, P.Gmc. *brothar; PIE base *bhrater- “brother”).
  Haftowrang, Mid.Pers. haptôiring, from Av. haptôiringa- “with seven marks,” from hapto- “seven,“as above, + iringa- “mark,” cf. Skt. linga- “mark, token, sign.”
  Camcé “a spoon, ladle; a wooden bowl or cup;”
  bozorg “big, large.”