An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The Table Mountain. A faint constellation near the south celestial pole, at 5h right ascension, 80° south declination. It contains part of the → Large Magellanic Cloud, and its brightest star
is of magnitude 5.1. Abbreviation Men; genitive Mensae.

Etymology (EN): First introduced by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille (1713-1762) under the name Mons Mensae, from L. mons “mountain” + mensa “table” to refer to Table Mountain in South Africa. Lacaille made important early observations of the southern sky from the Cape Town region.

Etymology (PE): Mizkuh, from miz “table,” originally “preparations for entertaining a guest; guest;” Mid.Pers. mêzd “offering, meal” + kuh→ mountain.