Canicular Days

pl. See DOG-DAYS. Canic'ular Year, n. (Chron.) The ancient solar year of the Egyptians; so called because its commencement was determined by the heliacal rising of the Dogstar. The Egyptians chose this star for their observations, either on account of its superior brightne , or because its heliacal rising corresponded with the annual overflow of the Nile. At a very early period of history the Egyptians had perceived that the solar year contains 3654 days, for their common years consisted of 365 days, and every fourth year of 366, as in the Julian calendar. Can'icule, n. [Lat. canicula.] The Dog-star; figuratively, the DOG-DAYS, q. v.