English

The Katherine River at Katherine, Northern Territory

Proper noun

Katherine

1. A female given name, a popular spelling variant of Catherine.
   • 1816 Alexander Chalmers: The General Biographical Dictionary: page 186:

     SAVAGE (HENRY) - - - His aim was to appear great in little things, and the gravity with which he discusses the origin, derivation, &c of the name Katherine, whether it should be spelt with a K or a C, at which time the letter k was introduced, and the double l in Balliol, is truly wonderful. - - - By his wife, Lady Mary Sandys, he left issue Henry, Edwin, John, Katherine, and Thomas

   • 1991 Margaret Atwood: Wilderness Tips ISBN 0385 421060 : page 36:

     During her childhood she was a romanticized Katherine, dressed by her misty-eyed, fussy mother in dresses that looked like ruffled pillowcases. By high school she'd shed the frills and emerged as a bouncy, round-faced Kathy - - - At university she was Kath, blunt and no-bullshit in her Take-Back-the-Night jeans and checked shirt - - - When she ran away to England, she sliced herself down to Kat. It was economical, street-feline, and pointed as a nail.

2. A placename given to a river and a town in Northern Territory, Australia.