[f. as prec. Cf. ON. vestarliga.]
1. In a westward direction; towards the west.
1625. Hynmers, trans. Blaeu’s Sea-Mirr., III. 3. You must goe first southwest or somwhat westerly to the Helder.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., IV. iii. 154. S. W. b. W. 1/2 Westerly 190 Leagues.
1680. J. Collins, Plea Irish Cattell, etc., 7. Our Ships … Westerly or Southerly bound, Victual here.
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack, viii. We began to steer away westerly.
1771. Cook’s 1st Voy., 26. A small white cloud … from which a train of fire issued, extending itself westerly.
1795. Vancouver, Agric. Essex, 87. Crossing the great road, and proceeding thence westerly through Shenfield.
1835. W. Irving, Tour Prairies, 70. Our plan was … to keep westerly, until we should pass through … the Cross Timber.
1863. Daily Tel., 6 April, 5/5. The principal channel is described … as running in a straight line with the opening between the heads, westerly, out to sea.
1891. W. Clark Russell, Marriage at Sea, ii. We’re going to get a breeze…; nothing to harm … if it don’t draw westerly.
2. (Blowing) from the west.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4443/3. The Wind blowing fresh Westerly, oblig’d ’em to anchor.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. vii. 214. We found the wind to hang westerly.
1816. Tuckey, Narr. Exped. R. Zaire, ii. (1818), 51. The winds now came more westerly.
