northwest by west

noun

, Navigation, Surveying.

1. a point on the compass, 11°15′ west of northwest. : NWbW

northwest by west

noun

1. one point on the compass south of northwest, 303° 45′ clockwise from north

adjective

1. in, from, or towards this direction

Word History and Origins

Origin of northwest by west¹

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

It happened this way, sir: we were off Cape Cod, heading northwest by west for Boston, about a week ago, close hauled on the starboard tack in a half gale of wind.

From Project Gutenberg

Bailleul, seventeen miles northwest by west of Lille, which had been occupied by the foe for eight days, was abandoned without a shot being fired.

From Project Gutenberg

The American frigate was standing to the westward with the wind about north by west and bore from the two British frigates about northwest by west.

From Project Gutenberg

Following the above-mentioned course he sailed to the altitude of nine and one-half degrees, whence he sailed southwest by west to fourteen degrees, where he changed his course to northwest by west.

From Project Gutenberg

To the northward of this back country, other ranges ran parallel to those along the river, from northwest by west to south-east by east, and shorter ranges joined them occasionally.

From Project Gutenberg