adv., etc. [See WEST adv. and NORTH-WEST. Cf. MLG. westnortwest, Du. -noord-, G. -nord-.] In or from the direction situated midway between west and north-west. Also as sb. and adj.
14[?]. Sailing Directions (Hakl. Soc., 1889), 11. The Ilonde and Berwik haven lien west north west and Est South est. Ibid., 18. The streemys of Briggewatir sit west norwest.
c. 1490. Botoner, Itin. (1778), 287. Anglice west-north-west versus Seynt Davyes.
a. 1500. Leland, Itin. (1764), III. 30. The secund [creke] lyith West North West.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 70. Proceading … at the lengthe towarde the weste northe weste.
1625. Hynmers, trans. Blaeu’s Sea-Mirr., II. 112. When that Lagernesse is westnorthwest from you, then goe on southeast.
1685. T. Phelps, Acc. Captivity, 22. Our course by the North-Star was West North-West.
1715. Lond. Gaz., No. 5360/5. With little Wind at West North West.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 111. The land lying away from the west-north-west to the south-east-by-south.
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! xxxi. A strong west-north-west breeze.
1883. R. H. Scott, Elem. Meteorol., 359. The wind flies round to West, or West-north-west.
Hence West-north-westerly a.
1895. Westm. Gaz., 7 Oct., 5/2. She met with a tremendous west-north-westerly gale.
