Arctic \Arc"tic\, a. [OE. artik, OF. artique, F. arctique, L.
arcticus, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? a bear, also a northern
constellation so called; akin to L. ursus bear, Skr. ?ksha.]
Pertaining to, or situated under, the northern constellation
called the Bear; northern; frigid; as, the arctic pole,
circle, region, ocean; an arctic expedition, night,
temperature.
Note: The arctic circle is a lesser circle, parallel to the
equator, 23[deg] 28' from the north pole. This and the
antarctic circle are called the polar circles, and
between these and the poles lie the frigid zones. See
Zone.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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