cynosure

[Bailey]

cy·no·sure (sn-shr, sn-)
n.
1. An object that serves as a focal point of attention and admiration.
2. Something that serves to guide.



[French, Ursa Minor (which contains the guiding star Polaris), from Latin cynosra, from Greek kunosoura, dog's tail, Ursa Minor : kunos, genitive of kun, dog; see kwon- in Indo-European roots + our, tail; see ors- in Indo-European roots.]




cyno·sural adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

mark dog-my-guiding-star Bailey

[gailr]

wag the dog?

[Perry]

With many dogs I know, following their tail would either mean running in circles, or sprinting back and forth.