puppis, is (acc. rarely puppem, Luc. 3, 545; and 4, 132, acc. to Prisc. p. 758 and 761 P.; abl. puppe, Ov. M. 5, 653; 7, 1; 11, 464 al.; Sil. 14, 525; Stat. Th. 3, 29 et saep.), f. [etym. dub.].
I The hinder part of a ship , the stern or poop (where also the helm was placed): navem convertens ad puppim, Cic. Att. 13, 21, 3: surgens a puppi ventus, astern , right aft , Verg. A. 3, 130: e puppi, Curt. 4, 4, 8; Ov. M. 3, 651: major pars a puppe nantes equos loris trahebat, Curt. 7, 9, 4: puppes citae, Hor. Epod. 9, 20: sedebamus in puppi et clavum tenebamus, i. e. I sat at the helm of the ship of State , Cic. Fam. 9, 15, 3: quam ob rem conscende nobiscum. et quidem ad puppim, id. ib. 12, 25, 5.—
II Transf.
A In gen., a ship : pictae puppes, Hor. C. 1, 14, 14; Verg. A. 1, 399; id. G. 3, 362; Ov. H. 13, 97.—
B As a constellation, The Ship , Cic. Arat. 389.— *
C In comic lang., the back : puppis Pereunda est probe, Plaut. Ep. 1, 1, 69.