Charles' Wain
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Charles' Wain
Where it comes from
From Middle English Charlewayn, from Old English carles wǣn, apparently from a common Proto-Germanic *karlas wagnaz (cognate with forms in other Germanic languages, e.g. Swedish Karlavagnen). It seems that this common Germanic name originally meant the ‘peasant's wagon’ (the churls' wagon) in contrast to the ‘woman's wagon’ (Ursa Minor). Later it was interpreted as ‘Charles's wagon’ and associated with Charlemagne.
proper noun Charles's Wain
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A bright circumpolar asterism of the northern sky, said to resemble a wagon or cart. It is part of the constellation Ursa Major and includes the seven stars Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid.
Charles waine is ouer the new Chimney, and yet our horse not packt.
Similar: Big Dipper, Drinking Gourd, Northern Ladle, Northern Waggoner, Plough, Wain
Talk about this word "Charles' Wain." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/charles'%20wain. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. Charles' Wain. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/charles'%20wain "Charles' Wain." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/charles'%20wain.Cite this
@misc{charles_wain_2026,
title = {Charles' Wain},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/charles'%20wain},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
