Canicula, læ, fœ ge. A star whereof the Canicular and dogge vayes be named Dies caniculares.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
cănīcŭla, ae, f.dim. [canis]. I.A small dog or bitch, Plin. 32, 7, 26, 79.—Hence, B.Trop., of a passionate, quarrelsome woman, Plaut. Curc. 5, 1, 8; Gell. 4, 20, 3.—II.Transf.A. Canis Minor, the lesser dogstar, in the mouth of the constellation Canis, q. v., Plin. 2, 47, 47, 123; 18, 28, 68, 268: flagrans, Hor. C. 3, 13, 9: flammans, Manil. 5, 207: rubra, Hor. S. 2, 5, 39: sitiens, Ov. A. A. 2, 231: insana, Pers. 3, 5: caniculae aestus, Hor. C. 1, 17, 17.—Trop., of Diogenes: illa canicula Diogenes, Tert. adv. Marc. 11; cf. capella.—B.A kind of sea-dog (cf. canis, II. B.), Plin. 9, 46, 70, 151 sq.—C.The worst throw with dice, the dog throw; opp. to Venus (v. canis, II. C., and alea), Pers. 3, 49.