Northumbrian, a. and n.
(nɔːˈθʌmbrɪən)
[f. prec. + -ian.]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to Northumbria or Northumberland.
| 1622 Drayton Poly-olb. xxiv. 937 The Roll of these Northumbrian Kings. Ibid. 1238 Of the Northumbrian Line so have we many more. 1776 Sir D. Dalrymple Annals Scotl. I. 7 Maerleswegen, Gospatrick, and other Northumbrian nobles. 1818 Scott Rob Roy v, The monsters of heraldry, embodied by the art of some Northumbrian chisel. Ibid. xviii, A snug comfortable Northumbrian cottage. 1845 R. Garnett in Proc. Philol. Soc. II. 78 This admixture of the Northmen in the population of the Northumbrian provinces. 1884 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 567/2 The management of many Northumbrian farms is excellent. |
B. n.
1. An inhabitant or native of ancient Northumbria or modern Northumberland.
| 1752 Life Bernard Gilpin 207 These wild Northumbrians indeed went beyond the ferocity of their ancestors. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XIII. 111/2 The Northumbrians were anciently stigmatized as a savage, barbarous people. 1828–43 Tytler Hist. Scot. (1864) I. 56 The Scots..delayed their advance; and the Northumbrians..returned home. 1884 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 567/1 In physique the Northumbrian is stalwart and robust. |
2. The northern dialect of English current in ancient Northumbria; also, the modern dialect of Northumberland.
| 1845 Kemble in Proc. Philol. Soc. II. 125 The most extensive monument of pure Northumbrian which we possess. 1889 Skeat Gospels Introd., The other three Gospels are glossed in Old Northumbrian. |
Hence Norˈthumbrianism.
| 1845 R. Garnett in Proc. Philol. Soc. II. 84 The Northumbrianisms swa, gude, sall, swilke, til. |