from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Perigee \Per"i*gee\, Perigeum \Per`i*ge"um\, n. [NL. perigeum,
fr. Gr. peri` about, near + gh^ the earth: cf. F.
p['e]rig['e]e.] (Astron.)
That point, in the orbit of the moon or other body orbiting
the earth, which is nearest to the earth; -- opposed to
{apogee}. It is sometimes, but rarely, used of the nearest
points of bodies not orbiting the earth, such as of a comet,
a planet, etc. Called also {epigee}, {epigeum}.
[1913 Webster +PJC]