ursa

A name of two constellations, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, the Great and the Little Bear.

Either one of the Bears. See the Phrases below.

the Great Bear, one of the most conspicuous of the northern constellations. It is situated near the pole, and contains the stars which form the Dipper, or Charles’s Wain, two of which are the Pointers, or stars which point towards the North Star.

the Little Bear, the constellation nearest the north pole. It contains the north star, or polestar, which is situated in the extremity of the tail.