I. ˈnȯr-thə(r)n adjective
Etymology: Middle English northerne, from Old English; akin to Old High German nordrōni northern, Old English north north
Date: before 12th century
1. capitalized
a. : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated North
b. : of, relating to, or constituting the northern dialect
2.
a. : lying toward the north
b. : coming from the north
a northern storm
• north·ern·most -ˌmōst adjective
II. noun
Date: 1950
1. capitalized : the dialect of English spoken in the part of the United States north of a line running northwest through central New Jersey, below the northern tier of counties in Pennsylvania, through northern Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, across central Iowa, and through the northwest corner of South Dakota
2. : pike III,1a