An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Th Bull. A large constellation of the → Zodiac, in the northern hemisphere at about 4h 20m right ascension, 16° north declination. Alpha Tauri or → Aldebaran is among the twenty brightest stars in the sky. Taurus contains several star clusters, including the → Pleiades and → Hyades. The famous → Crab nebula is situated to the west of Zeta Tauri. Abbreviation: Tau; Genitive: Tauri.

Etymology (EN): From L. taurus “bull,” from PIE *tauro- “bull” (cf. Gk. tauros;
O.C.S. turu “bull, steer;” Lith. tauras “aurochs;” O.Pruss. tauris “bison”), often said to be from PIE *steu-ro- “be big, be strong, be sturdy” (cf. Pers. sotur, Mid.Pers. stôr “horse, mount; large cattle;” Av. staora- “bovine animals;” O.Icelandic stjôrr; Goth. stiur “young bull;” O.E. steor; E. steer).

Etymology (PE): Gâv “bull, ox, cow;” Mid.Pers. gâw “ox, bull, cow; Taurus;” Av. gao- “cow, ox, bull;” cf. Skt. gaus; Gk. bous “ox;” L. bov-; Armenian kov; O.E. cu; E. cow; PIE base *gwou- “ox, bull, cow.”