Emily Dickinson Lexicon

ARC'TIC, a. [Gr. αρκτος, a bear, and a northern constellation so called. W. arth; It. art, a bear.]

Northern; pertaining to the northern constellation, called the bear; as, the arctic pole, circle, region, or sea. The arctic circle is a lesser circle parallel to the equator, 23° 28' from the north pole. This, and the antarctic circle, are called the polar circles, and within these lie the frigid zones.