κύων a dog or bitch, Hom., etc.; most commonly of hounds, Hom., etc.; the Laconian breed was famous, Soph.;— νή or μὰ τὸν κύνα was the favourite oath of Socrates, Plat.: cf. τραπεζεύς. as a word of reproach, to denote shamelessness or audacity in women, rashness, recklessness in men, Hom. at Athens a nickname of the Cynics, Arist., Anth. the Trag. apply the term to the ministers of the gods; the eagle is Διὸς πτηνὸς κύων Aesch.; the griffins Ζηνὸς ἀκραγεῖς κύνες Aesch.; the Bacchantes Λύσσης κ. Eur., etc. a sea-dog, mentioned as a fish in Od. the dog-star, i. e. the dog of Orion, placed among the stars with its master, Il.