Northern

Northern (comparative more Northern, superlative most Northern)

2. (British) Characteristic of the North of England (the North) (usually capitalised).

   Les Dawson was a famous Northern comedian.

4. (US) Characteristic of the northern part of the United States (the North) (usually capitalised).

   She's a Northern girl, so she had to ask what hush puppies and mudbugs are. We were happy to serve her the answer on a platter!

Northern (plural Northerns)

1. A surname.
2. The Northern Line of the London Underground.
3. (US, historical) Any of several former railroads called the Northern Railroad in the 19th century.

   Coordinate term: Northern Pacific (not to be confused)

   We don't move any freight on the Northern anymore.

Northern (plural Northerns)

2. (rail transport) A steam locomotive of the 4-8-4 wheel arrangement.

   Synonym: Northern Pacific

   It takes something big, like a Northern, to pull a train of this size.

   • 1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 106:

     Along the UP Trail, America's original transcontinental, mention of the 800's will long recall the capable, long-legged Northerns that were built for standard-weight limiteds but often doubled for diesels on the City streamliners.

4. (Canada) A genre of fiction focusing on the untamed northern territory of Canada and sometimes Alaska, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

   Coordinate term: Western (similar thematically)

   I decided to kick back and lose myself in a good Northern for a while.

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Northern is the 8981st most common surname in the United States, belonging to 3643 individuals. Northern is most common among White (56.27%) and Black/African American (39.12%) individuals.