prop. n. [ L., Phaëthon (in sense 1), fr. Gr. Fae`qwn, fr. fae`qein, fa`ein, to shine. See Phantom. ] 1. (Class. Myth.) The son of Helios (Phœbus), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A genus of oceanic birds including the tropic birds. [ 1913 Webster ]