Northern French river in north country (6)
I believe the answer is:
norman
'northern french' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'river in north country' is the wordplay.
'river' becomes 'r'.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'north' becomes 'n' ('N' can be a synonym of 'north').
'country' becomes 'oman' (Oman is an example**).
'n'+'oman'='noman'
'r' placed inside 'noman' is 'NORMAN'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for norman that I've seen before include "Barry, Greg or Jessye" , "Old invader" , "Attacker" , "Boy's name" , "12th century invasion of Ireland" .)