Middle English Dictionary Entry
north-west n., adj., & adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | north-west n., adj., & adv. Also -weste, northe west(e, norweste. |
| Etymology | OE norþ-west & norþan-westan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The point or direction which lies midway between north and west; at ~, from the northwest; bi (in, on) ~, to the northwest; in ~, in the northwestern part of the sky [quot.: c1325]; (b) the northwest wind; (c) as adj.: northwest; ~ ward, the northwest ward or district of a town; ~ corner, ~ plage, ~ wind; (d) as adv.: toward the northwest; in a northwesterly direction.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1110 : He [a star] wæs ge sewen on bæc on þæt norð west gangende.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11742 : In þe norþwest a derk weder þer aros.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.69 : Caerleel is a citee in þe contre of Norþ Engelond toward þe norþ west.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)175a/a : Þer Inne [Belgica] is þe Cite Arelatensis and hath..þe brittisshe see in þe norþe weste.
- c1400 *Trev.Higd.(Tbr D.7)27b : Normandy haþ..in þe norþ west þe souþ syde of Engelond.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.71 : The chirche of Haugustaldens is a place beenge from Yorke by lxxx myles, at the northe weste of hit [Trev.: norþwestward; L ad zephyrum borealem].
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)11 : Yif..the wynde be at Northwest, your cours is Southest.
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)14 : Portlande and bery land is est and by north west and by south.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)358 : Northe weste: aquilo zephirus.
c
- (1390) Doc.Oxf.in OHS 7311 : North West Ward.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)135b/b : Boreas þe Norþerne wynd..haþ by his sides tweyne wyndis; þat on hatte aquilo and is biwest þat, þat is, þe norþwest wynde.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)66a/a : Tiphonicus: wynd, tempest, or norþe west wynd.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)114b : The ferthe principal wynde is þe northerne wynde þe whiche haþ on his right side þe north west wynde [L thrascias siue circius].
- (1472) in Madox Form.Angl.(1702)106 : Ab the Northwestcorner cujusdam clausi prædicti Prioris..ad Northwestcorner prædictæ sepis.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)15/14 : The fourþe hyghe-weye..gothe..forthe to..Tyneworþe, yn the norþe-weste plage of þus Ile.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)86b : Northwest wynde: Circius.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)29/25 : With the colde north weste wynde thay ben away I-went.
- a1500 PFulham (Jas 43)14 : There comythe a noyes norweste wynde.
d
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)11 : The cours is south est and be south, northwest and by north..At the Hedelonde the streme settith North West and Southest.
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)14 : Seint Mary of Cille and Uschante lien northwest and by north.