PHAETHON

Phaethon, genus Phaethon

(noun) type genus of the Phaethontidae

Phaethon

(noun) (Greek mythology) son of Helios; killed when trying to drive his father’s chariot and came too close to earth

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Pha"ë*thon, n. Etym: [L., Phaëthon (in sense 1), fr. Gr. Phantom.]

1. (Class. Myth.)

Definition: The son of Helios (Phoebus), that is, the son of light, or of the sun. He is fabled to have obtained permission to drive the chariot of the sun, in doing which his want of skill would have set the world on fire, had he not been struck with a thunderbolt by Jupiter, and hurled headlong into the river Po.

2. (Zoöl.)

Definition: A genus of oceanic birds including the tropic birds.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition