north-northwest

American  

[nawrth-nawrth-west, nawr-nawr-west] / ˈnɔrθˌnɔrθˈwɛst, ˈnɔrˌnɔrˈwɛst /

noun

1. the point on the compass midway between north and northwest. NNW

---

adjective

1. coming from this point.

   a north-northwest wind.

2. directed toward this point.

   a north-northwest course.

adverb

1. toward this point.

   sailing north-northwest.

north-northwest British  

noun

1. the point on the compass or the direction midway between northwest and north, 337° 30′ clockwise from north

---

adjective

1. in, from, or towards this direction

Etymology

Origin of north-northwest

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; north, northwest

Example Sentences

And in map view, features on either side of the Seattle fault zone angle away from each other; north of the Seattle fault zone, structures are angled north-northwest, while in the south, they're oriented north-northeast.

From Science Daily • Feb. 6, 2024

The storm, which crossed into the Pacific Ocean Sunday evening, was moving north-northwest Monday morning along the coast of El Salvador, according to the U.S.

From Reuters • Oct. 10, 2022

The rocket will go up from Launch Complex-4 located on south base, base officials said, where the weather forecast currently calls for mostly sunny skies with a north-northwest wind speed of up to 16 mph.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 25, 2022

The system was expected to reorganize and move to the north-northwest later Sunday, skirting past Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday before entering the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.

From Washington Times • Oct. 25, 2020

It was about 45 miles north-northwest of Key West and heading west.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers