Norˈthumber Now rare.
[OE. Norðhymbre (also Norðan-), f. norð- north + Humbre the Humber. The ME. α-forms appear to represent the OE. gen. or dat. pl., but may have been taken in the sense of ‘Northumberland’.]
pl. The ancient inhabitants of Northumbria, or that part of England lying north of the Humber.
| α a 900 O.E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 601, Edwine Norðhymbra cyning. a 1122 Ibid. (Laud MS.) an. 1095, Se eorl Rodbeard of Norðhymbran. c 1205 Lay. 30379 Cadwaðlan gon liðe..touward Norð-humbre. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4683 Þe verste king of norþhumber. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 81 Þis is þe citee þat Ethelfride, kyng of Norþhumber, destroyed. |
| β 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 163 Al þe longage of þe Norþhumbres, and specialliche at Ȝork, is..scharp, slitting, and frotynge and vnschape. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 15 While king William was thus occupied in Normandy, the Northumbers rebelled. 1601 Weever Mirror Mart. vi. i, He pierst the eie Of the Scots king, and set Northumbers free. 1631 ― Anc. Funeral Mon. To Rdr. 4 Ceonulph, King of the Northumbers. 1705 J. Taylor Journ. Edenb. (1903) 51 Edwin, king of the Northumbers, a Pagan. 1756–9 Butler Lives Saints (1836) II. 205 The English Saxon kingdom of the Northumbers. 1854 Waterworth Eng. & Rome 182 His pious and zealous son, the King of the Northumbers. |