English

Morning stars through the centuries

Noun

morning star ‎(plural morning stars)

1. The planet Venus as observed in the eastern sky around dawn.

   The evening star is the morning star. (Hesperus is Phosphorus.)

   • 1979, Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher, “The Rainbow Connection”, The Muppet Movie, Henson Associates and ITC Entertainment

     Who said that every wish would be heard and answered / When wished on the morning star? / Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it / And look what it's done so far.

2. (less commonly) The planet Mercury as observed in the eastern sky around dawn.
3. (military) A weapon consisting of a heavy ball set with spikes attached rigidly to a staff, in contrast to a flail.
   • 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 55

     Contrivances like these, except that the balls were armed with spikes, were long carried by the pioneers of the trained bands, or city militia, they are generally called morning stars.

Synonyms

• (planet Venus): Phosphorus
• (planet Mercury): Apollo
• (spiked weapon on staff): holy water sprinkler, morgenstern

Antonyms

• (planet Venus): evening star, Hesperus
• (planet Mercury): evening star, Hermes

Translations

Related terms

• (spiked weapon on staff): truncheon, mace, holy water sprinkler

External links

• Phosphorus (morning star) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• morning star on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Morning star (weapon) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia