Polestar
/ˈpoʊlˌstɑːr/noun
The North Star, especially Polaris, used for navigation.
Did you know?Because Polaris sits so close to the north celestial pole, it has long been treated as a cosmic anchor for navigation, timekeeping, and symbolic “true north.”
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
pōl
“A pole or axis”
Old English
OE
steorra
“Star”
Middle English
English
pole sterre
“The star near the celestial pole”
16th Century
English
pole-star
“The North Star, used as a fixed navigational star”
Modern English
English
polestar
“The North Star; also a guiding principle or central influence”