South″ern (?; 277), a. [AS. s��ern. See South.] Of or pertaining to the south; situated in, or proceeding from, the south; situated or proceeding toward the south.
Southern Cross(Astron.), a constellation of the southern hemisphere containing several bright stars so related in position as to resemble a cross. — Southern Fish(Astron.), a constelation of the southern hemisphere (Piscis Australis) containing the bright star Fomalhaut. — Southern States(U.S. Hist. & Geog.), the States of the American Union lying south of Pennsylvania and the Ohio River, with Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Before the Civil War, Missouri also, being a slave State, was classed as one of the Southern States.