Centaurus, i, m., = Κένταυρος, a Centaur; the Centaurs were wild people in the mountains of Thessaly, who fought on horseback; acc. to the fable, monsters in Thessaly of a double form (the upper parts human, the lower those of a horse), sons of Ixion and of a cloud in the form of Juno (hence nubigenae, Verg. A. 7, 674), Lucr. 5, 876; 5, 889; Ov. M. 9, 191; 12, 219 sq.; Verg. G. 2, 456; id. A. 7, 675; Hor. C. 4, 2, 15 al.; Jul. Val. Rer. Gest. Alex. 1, 13 (21): nobilis, i. e. Chiron, Hor. Epod. 13, 11; cf. bimembris, v. Lapithae.

—As figure-head of a ship, Verg. A. 10, 195.

— A constellation in the southern heavens, Hyg. Astr. 2, 38; 3, 37; Cic. Arat. 203 sq.; Manil. 1, 408.

— The name of a ship (hence, sc. navis, fem.): magna, Verg. A. 5, 122.