Pherkad

P3H4E1R1K5A1D2
US/ˈfɜːrkæd/

proper noun

γ Ursae Minoris, a star in the constellation Ursa Minor, formerly a dual North Star with Kochab from about 1000 BC to about AD 300.

Similar
Gamma Ursae Minorisγ Ursae MinorisPherkad Major
OriginArabic فرقد →
Scrabble 17
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. astronomyγ Ursae Minoris, a star in the constellation Ursa Minor, formerly a dual North Star with Kochab from about 1000 BC to about AD 300.

    Synonyms: Gamma Ursae Minoris, γ Ursae Minoris, Pherkad Major

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounγ Ursae Minoris, a star in the constellation Ursa Minor, formerly a dual North Star with Kochab from about 1000 BC to about AD 300.

Similar
Gamma Ursae Minorisγ Ursae MinorisPherkad Major

Origin

  1. Arabicفرقد“calf”
  2. EnglishPherkad

From Arabic فرقد (farqad, “calf”), from aḫfa al farkadayn ("the dim one of the two calves") in reference to Pherkad and Kochab, previously dual North Stars. Formally approved by the International Astronomical Union's Working Group on Star Names on 21 August 2016.

More words from Arabic

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Pherkad. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pherkad

MLA

“Pherkad.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pherkad. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Pherkad,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pherkad.

Source: Pherkad on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.