What physical direction is "horizontally to the north"?

[lilspicytaco]

Homework Statement

I am in Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism, and am working on review problems.
I have a potentially very silly question:
What physical direction is "horizontally north" (and similarly "horizontally south")?
This seems like a counter-intuitive description to me (90 degrees?) and yet I keep encountering it, for example in the context such as "the wire carries a current horizontally to the south," "slides horizontally to the north." (these two statements NOT part of the same problem)
Any insight much appreciated!

Homework Equations

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The Attempt at a Solution

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[TSny]

A current that is horizontally north would be a current that is horizontal (parallel to the ground) and also toward the north.