[ noun ] a bright spot on the parhelic circle; caused by diffraction by ice crystals <noun.phenomenon> two or more parhelia are usually seen at once
Sundog \Sun"dog`\, n. (Meteorol.) 1. A luminous spot occasionally seen a few degrees from the sun, supposed to be formed by the intersection of two or more halos, or in a manner similar to that of halos.
2. A fragmentary rainbow; a small rainbow near the horizon; -- called also {dog} and {weathergaw}. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]