An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The Male Water Snake. A minor constellation with three main stars, one of the 15 → circumpolar constellations in the southern hemisphere. It first appeared in Johann Bayer’s Uranometria of 1603. It is often confused with → Hydra, the large constellation further north. It is also referred to as “male Hydra” or “little Hydra.” Abbreviation: Hyi; genitive: Hydri.

Etymology (EN): From L., from Gk. hydros “water serpent.”

Etymology (PE): Âbmâr “water snake,” from âb “water” (Mid.Pers. âb “water;” O. Pers. ap- “water;” Av. ap- “water;” cf. Skt. áp- “water;”
Hitt. happa- “water;” PIE āp-, ab- “water, river;”
cf. Gk. Apidanos, proper noun, a river in Thessalia; L. amnis “stream, river” (from *abnis); O.Ir. ab “river,” O.Prus. ape “stream,” Lith. upé “stream;” Latv. upe “brook”)

• mâr “snake, serpent” (Mid.Pers. mâr “snake;” Av. mairya- “snake, serpent”).