north

north the direction in which a compass needle normally points, towards the horizon on the left-hand side of a person facing east, or the part of the horizon lying in this direction.

In 19th-century America, the North was used for those northern states of the United States which were opposed to slavery in the Civil War, and which fought on the side of the Union. In current usage, the North often designates the industrialized and economically advanced nations of the world.
North-East Passage a passage for ships along the northern coast of Europe and Asia, from the Atlantic to the Pacific via the Arctic Ocean, sought for many years as a possible trade route to the East. It was first navigated in 1878–9 by the Swedish Arctic explorer Baron Nordenskjöld (1832–1901).
North Star the Pole Star; the North Star State is an informal name for Minnesota.
North-West Passage a sea passage along the northern coast of the American continent, through the Canadian Arctic from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It was (like the North-East Passage) sought for many years as a possible trade route; it was first navigated in 1903–6 by Roald Amundsen.
north wind doth blow, we shall have snow traditional weather rhyme, deriving from a nursery rhyme of the early 19th century.

See also Angel of the North at angel, Athens of the North, Cock of the North at cock, magnetic north, North Pole at pole2.