septentrion

Meanings

Noun

• The north or northern regions.

Adjective

• Of or relating to the north; northern.

Origin

• From Middle English septentrion, septentrione, septemtryones, septemtrioun, from Latin septentriō ("the northern regions, the north") directly and through Old French septentrïon, septemtrion, from septentriones (called Charles's Wain, or the Great Bear, also those called the Little Bear; properly, the “seven plow oxen”); from septem + triō, originally a plow ox (compare triōnēs, from its plural). Cognate with French septentrion, Middle English septemtrioun.