An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The Herdsman, the Ox Driver. A constellation in the northern hemisphere, at right ascension about 14h 30m, north declination about 30°. Its brightest star is → Arcturus. Abbreviation: Boo; genitive form: Boötis.

Etymology (EN): L. Boötes, from Gk. bootes “plowman,” literally “ox-driver,”
from bootein “to plow,” from bous “ox,” from
PIE *gwou- “ox, bull, cow;” compare with Av. gao-, gâuš “bull, cow, ox,” Mod.Pers. gâv, Skt. gaus, Armenian kov, O.E. cu.

Etymology (PE): Gâvrân “ox-driver,” from gâv “ox, cow” + rân “driver,” from rândan “to drive."
Gâyâr, from Lori “bull driver, plower, plow man” (Tabari goyâr),
from gâ “bull, cow,” variant of gâv, explained above, + -âr, either “driver”, Av. ar-
“to set in motion” (Skt. ir-, IER *er-), or IER *are- “to plow” (L. arare, Gk. aroun, O.C.S. orja, Lith. ariu, Goth. arjan, O.E. erian, Tokharian AB âre). Compare also with Gilaki urân " to plow,” Qâeni ordu “plow”.