One of the 12 constellations (in fact 13) making up the → zodiac.
Etymology (EN): → sign; → zodiac.
Etymology (PE): Borj originally “tower,” most probably
related to Pers. borz “height, magnitude, greatness,” boland “high,”
bâlâ “up, above, high, elevated, height,” Laki dialect berg “hill, mountain;”
Mid.Pers. burz “height,” buland “high;” O.Pers. baršan- “height;”
Av. barəz- “high, mount,” barezan- “height;” cf.
Skt. bhrant- “high;” L. fortis “strong” (Fr. and E. force);
O.E. burg, burh “castle, fortified place,” from P.Gmc.
*burgs “fortress;” Ger. Burg “castle,” Goth. baurgs “city,”
E. burg, borough, Fr. bourgeois, bourgeoisie, faubourg;
PIE base *bhergh- “high.” Borj may have been loaned into Ar. from
Mid.Pers. The meaning extension of borj to its astronomical sense of
zodiacal sign may have arisen from the conception of the zodiac as a barrier between
heaven and Earth through which access was gained by means of twelve gates.
