zodiachttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zodiac_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezodiac, n.
First published 1921; not fully revised

zodiacnoun

    1. 1.a.
      1390–
      Astronomy. A belt of the celestial sphere extending about 8 or 9 degrees on each side of the ecliptic, within which the apparent motions of the sun, moon, and principal planets take place; it is divided into twelve equal parts called signs (see 1b).
      1. 1390
        Ther ben signes tuelve, Whiche have her cercles be hemselve Compassed in the zodiaque.
        J. Gower, Confessio Amantis vol. III. 108
      2. c1400 (1391)
        To knowe in owre orizonte with wych degree of the zodiac that the Mone arisith in any latitude.
        G. Chaucer, Treatise on Astrolabe (Cambridge MS. Dd.3.53) (1872) Prologue 3
        [Composed 1391]
      3. 1426
        She held also a gret ballaunce, Only off purpos (yiff she konne,) To peyse the sodyak and the sonne.
        J. Lydgate, translation of G. de Guileville, Pilgrimage of Life of Man 17200
      4. c1540 (?a1400)
        The sun vnder zodias settis hym to leng Two dayes betwene.
        Destruction of Troy 3726
        [Composed ?a1400]
      5. c1550
        Ane vthir grit circle in the spere callit the zodiac the quhilk deuidis the circle equinoctial in tua partis.
        Complaynt of Scotland (1979) vi. 39
      6. 1594
        When the golden sunne..Gallops the Zodiacke in his glistering Coach.
        W. Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus ii. i. 7
      7. 1611
        They have empayld within a Zodiake The free-borne Sunne, and keepe twelue signes awake To watch his steps.
        J. Donne, Anat. World sig. B2
      8. 1727
        Thus Phœbus thro' the Zodiac takes his way.
        W. Broome, Poems 195
      9. 1868
        One of the points in which the zodiac cuts the equator.
        J. N. Lockyer, Elementary Lessons in Astronomy §364
    2. 1.b.
      ?1533–
      signs of the zodiac (sign n. I.6): the twelve equal parts into which the zodiac is divided, and through one of which the sun passes in each month; they are named after the twelve constellations (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces) with which at a former epoch they severally coincided approximately (see precession n.2 1).
      1. [1390
        Hou that the Signes sitte arowe, Ech after other be degre In substance and in proprete The zodiaque comprehendeth Withinne his cercle, as it appendeth.
        J. Gower, Confessio Amantis vol. III. 117]
      2. ?1533
        The xii. signes of the zodiacque.
        G. Du Wes, Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Cci v
      3. 1585
        The signe in the Zodiacke called Gemini.
        C. Fetherston, translation of J. Calvin, Comm. Actes Apostles (xxviii. 11) 586
      4. 1625
        Wheresoeuer any man stands on the Surface of the Earth, six signes of the Zodiacke will shew themselues.
        N. Carpenter, Geography Delineated i. v. 101
      5. 1715
        The images of the Stars have removed from the Signs of the Zodiac, to which they originally gave names.
        translation of D. Gregory, Elements of Astronomy vol. I. ii. §1. 203
      6. 1866
        The sun is in the northern signs of the zodiac.
        R. M. Ferguson, Electricity 36
    3. 1.c.
      1704–
      zodiac of the moon, zodiac of a planet, etc.: that belt of the heavens (usually a portion of the ordinary zodiac) within which the apparent motion of the moon, planet, etc. takes place.
      1. 1704
        Zodiack of the Comets, Cassini hath observed a certain Tract..within whose Bounds..he hath found most Comets..to keep.
        J. Harris, Lexicon Technicum vol. I
      2. 1715
        These Comets..do not go in the Zodiac or Way of the Planets.
        translation of D. Gregory, Elements of Astronomy vol. II. vi. §1. 821
      3. 1788
        The Bedoween..was taught by experience to divide, in twenty-eight parts, the zodiac of the moon.
        E. Gibbon, Decline & Fall vol. V. l. 190
      4. 1834
        According to Gaubil, the invention of the Chinese zodiac, divided into twenty-seven constellations, is to be referred to Yao.
        Natural Philosophy (Libr. Useful Knowl.) vol. III. Astron. i. 4
      5. 1888
        The synodical revolution of the moon laid down the lines of the solar, its sidereal revolution those of the lunar zodiac.
        Encyclopædia Britannica vol. XXIV. 793/2
  1. 2.
    c1400–
    A figure or representation of the zodiac.
    1. c1400 (1391)
      Alle sterres sittinge wyth-in the zodiak of thin astrolabie ben cleped sterres of the north.
      G. Chaucer, Treatise on Astrolabe (Cambridge MS. Dd.3.53) (1872) i. §21. 12
      [Composed 1391]
    2. 1548
      In the zodiak were the twelue figures, curiously made, and aboue this were made the seuen planettes.
      Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clvijv
    3. 1605
      A virgin Prince, who presented in his shield, the Zodiacke with the Characters onely of Leo and Virgo.
      W. Camden, Remaines i. 168
    4. 1688
      Zodiack, is the imitation of a Bend, and is esteemed a girdle of Honor, or a note of favour.
      R. Holme, Academy of Armory ii. 42/2
    5. 1774
      The Zodiac, which Sir Isaac Newton supposed to relate to the Argonautic expedition, was an assemblage of Egyptian hieroglyphics.
      J. Bryant, New System vol. II. 483
    6. 1820
      The Egyptians connected astronomy with their religious ceremonies, as we found various zodiacs, not only among the temples, but in their tombs also.
      G. Belzoni, Narrative Egypt & Nubia ii. 278
    7. a1836
      The motto of a crest which bears his own picture, encircled by a zodiac.
      D. McNicoll, Works (1837) 24
    1. 3.a.
      c1560–1619
      † transferred. A year; the calendar. Obsolete.
      1. c1560
        Vpoun thair vyce war lang to waik, Quhais falsatt, fibilnes, and tressone, Hes rung thryis oure this zodiak.
        A. Scott, Poems (Scottish Text Society) v. 25
      2. a1616
        So long, that ninteene Zodiacks haue gone round.
        W. Shakespeare, Measure for Measure (1623) i. ii. 156
      3. 1619
        A month in the Zodiac.
        E. M. Bolton, translation of Florus, Roman Histories iv. ii. 434
    2. 3.b.
      1560–
      figurative and allusively. (a) Recurrent series, round, course. (b) Compass, range. (c) Set of twelve.
      This figurative use was inaugurated by Marcellus Palingenius in the title of his work Zodiacus vitæ, hoc est de hominis vita (c1530), each book of which was named after a sign of the zodiac. The title was imitated by Gaspar Barthius in Zodiacus vitæ christianæ (1623).
      1. 1560
        The first thre Bokes of the most christian Poet Marcellus Palingenius, called the Zodyake of lyfe: newly translated out of latin into English by Barnabe Googe.
        (title)
      2. a1586
        The Poet..goeth hand in hand with Nature, not inclosed within the narrow warrant of her guifts, but freely ranging onely within the Zodiack of his owne wit.
        Sir P. Sidney, Apologie for Poetrie (1595) sig. C1v
      3. 1607
        It moues not once within the Zodiacke of my expectation.
        T. Walkington, Optick Glasse Epistle
      4. 1629
        In your yeares Zodiacke may you fairely moue.
        T. Dekker, Londons Tempe 351
      5. a1631
        Thy illustrious Zodiacke Of twelve Apostles, which ingirt this All.
        J. Donne, Poems (1633) 176
      6. a1657
        Gladlie hast Through Follie's Zodiacke, from the first to th' Last.
        G. Daniel, Poems (1878) vol. II. 94
      7. 1745
        Thro' various Virtues, they, with Ardor, ran The Zodiac of their learn'd, illustrious Lives.
        E. Young, Consolation 50
      8. 1856
        The Catholic church..moves through a zodiac of feasts and fasts.
        R. W. Emerson, English Traits xiii. 218
      9. 1888
        I saw my turn had come, and the revolving zodiac brought its fairest sign to me.
        J. Ruskin, Præterita vol. III. ii. 67

Additional sense (1993)

  1. 1959–
    Properly with capital initial. A proprietary name for a make of inflatable dinghy, esp. one powered by an outboard motor.
    1. 1959
      Zodiac. Priority claimed..on French Reg. No. 471,582, dated Apr. 11, 1958... For pneumatic boats.
      Official Gazette (U.S. Patent Office) 31 March tm194/1
    2. 1959
      Zodiac..Aircraft; and boats and fittings therefor included in Class 12... 20th June 1958.
      Trade Marks Journal 12 August 655/2
    3. 1974
      There'll be more demos on the cherry-picker with the ‘zodiac’ and divers.
      Canadian Forces Sentinel (Ottawa) ii. 6/3
    4. 1986
      Best (or worst) of all, an old fisherman in a tiny, anchored, inflatable zodiac..oblivious to the stampede.
      Auckland Star 7 February a1/6
    5. 1991
      Twin 357hp Volvo provide 25 knots max. Autopilot, Mase generator, Zodiac dinghy and outboard etc.
      Motor Boat & Yachting January 266/2 (advertisement)

Additional sense (2010)

  1. 1784–
    Originally in China and East Asia: an astrological scheme based on the Chinese calendar, in which each year of a twelve-year cycle is represented by one of twelve animals associated with specific attributes, which a person born in that period of time is believed to possess.
    In some applications of the scheme these animals are also each associated with a particular lunar month and time of day.
    The twelve animals which are represented vary throughout East Asia (and occasionally also in English renderings of the names). A common scheme begins with the rat and includes the ox (or cow), tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat (or sheep), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig (or boar).
    1. 1784
      The twelve signs into which their [sc. the Chinese] zodiac is divided, viz. 1. The mouse, 2. the ox, or cow, 3. the tyger, 4. the hare, 5. the dragon, 6. the serpent, 7. the horse, 8. the sheep, 9. the monkey, 10. the cock, or hen, 11. the dog, 12. the boar.
      R. Dunthorne et al., Long's Astronomy (new edition) vol. II. v. 662
    2. 1821
      In the two zodiacs vulgarly called Tatar and Chaldean, or Egyptian, (in the zodiac which contains the sign of the Rat, and in that which contains those of the Fishes and Aquarius).
      H. M. Williams, translation of A. von Humboldt, Personal Narrative of Travels vol. V. ii. xxiv. 745
    3. 1895
      The eaves of the lower story are decorated with painted carvings of the twelve signs of the zodiac: the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon,..[etc.].
      K. S. Baxter, In Bamboo Lands iii. 95
    4. 1922
      The Chinese zodiac..figures largely in Japanese superstition. As there are twelve animals, years are counted off in cycles of twelve; and the same animals are also associated with days and hours.
      J. Street, Mysterious Japan xxvi. 317
    5. 1980
      According to legend, Buddha called all the creatures to him for a celebration, but only twelve came. The order in which they arrived determined the year each symbolizes in the zodiac.
      Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin vol. 38 No. 2. 21/1
    6. 2009
      As for the zodiac forecast,..those born in the Year of the Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Horse, Goat, and Boar will face difficult times this year.
      New Straits Times (Malaysia) (Nexis) 26 January 2

zodiac, n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.

zodiac, n. was last modified in June 2024.