Comments (Meaning / History Only)

Pronounced 'Bettel-juze' or 'Beetle-juze' according to OED.Betelguese, also known as Alpha Orionis, is the 'shoulder' of the Orion. The name Betelguese is thought to come from the Arabic word 'abet', meaning 'armpit', and 'al-Jauzā', the Arabic name for the constellation; hence, the name can be translated as 'the armpit of Orion'.
From the Arabic words يد الجوزاء (the hand of Orion). The Arabic name, yad al-Jauza, was mistransliterated into Latin due to the Y in yad being misread as B, thus the name became Betelgeuse. Betelgeuse is the ninth-brightest star and second-brightest star in the Orion constellation. [noted -ed]

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