Northern \North"ern\, a. [AS. nor[eth]erne.] 1. Of or pertaining to the north; being in the north, or nearer to that point than to the east or west. [1913 Webster] 2. In a direction toward the north; as, to steer a northern course; coming from the north; as, a northern wind. [1913 Webster] {Northern diver}. (Zool.) See {Loon}. {Northern lights}. See {Aurora borealis}, under {Aurora}. {Northern spy} (Bot.), an excellent American apple, of a yellowish color, marked with red. [1913 Webster]