Pluto

views updated May 18 2018

Pluto1 in Greek mythology, the god of the underworld, Hades; Pluto is the Latin form (used in English) of the Greek name Ploutōn, meaning ‘wealth-giver’, because wealth is seen as coming from the earth.

The name Pluto was given to what was then the most remote known planet of the solar system, ninth in order from the sun, discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. It is now considered a dwarf planet.

Pluto was also the name of the black cartoon dog which made its first appearance with Mickey Mouse in Walt Disney's The Chain Gang, 1930.

Plutonian means of or associated with the underworld or the god Pluto; infernal; gloomy and dark.

Dis

views updated May 23 2018

Dis in Roman mythology, the ruler of the Underworld, equivalent of the Greek Pluto (see Pluto1) or Hades; the name, as coming from Dives ‘rich’, may be a translation for Pluto.