northwest by north
Very lowSpecialized, technical (maritime, aviation, meteorology)
Definition
Meaning
A compass point one degree (or 11.25°) west of northwest.
A precise directional bearing used in navigation and meteorology to indicate a point between northwest (315°) and north-northwest (337.5°), specifically 326.25°.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a term from the traditional 32-point compass rose, used for precise directional specification. It is not used in general conversation about direction. It forms a compound with a fixed structure: 'northwest' + 'by' + 'north'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. The term is standardized in international navigation.
Connotations
Technical, precise, often associated with traditional seamanship or precise scientific measurement.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, used only in highly specific contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + northwest by north (e.g., 'sail', 'head', 'steer', 'set a course for')The + wind + is + blowing + from + the + northwest by north[Noun] + is + located + to + the + northwest by north + of + [location]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None applicable for this technical term]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used only in specific historical, geographical, or navigational papers.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Primary context. Used in sailing instructions, aviation charts, weather reports (wind direction), and land surveying.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- The old schooner was sailing northwest by north.
American English
- They proceeded northwest by north along the coast.
adjective
British English
- The northwest-by-north bearing was plotted on the admiralty chart.
American English
- The ship maintained a northwest-by-north heading throughout the night.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The captain ordered a change in course to northwest by north.
- On the old compass, the points were marked, including northwest by north.
- The meteorologist noted a shift in the jet stream to a more persistent northwest-by-north orientation.
- To avoid the reef, we adjusted our bearing by a quarter point to northwest by north.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"Northwest, but lean a little bit more towards the North." Remember the formula: primary intercardinal point (NW) + 'by' + the cardinal point (N) it leans towards.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS A PRECISE POINT ON A CIRCLE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'by' literally as 'от' or 'у'. It is a fixed prepositional phrase. Do not use 'северо-западный севером'. The concept is often expressed simply as 'направление 326 градусов'.
Common Mistakes
- Writing it as 'northwest by the north'.
- Confusing the order (e.g., 'north by northwest', which is a different point).
- Using it in everyday speech instead of just 'northwest'.
- Incorrect hyphenation (it is not hyphenated).
Practice
Quiz
What is the angular measurement of 'northwest by north' on a modern compass?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. They are different points on the compass rose. 'Northwest by north' (NWbN) is 326.25°, while 'north by northwest' (NbNW) is 348.75°.
Almost never in daily life. It is used in traditional maritime navigation, precise meteorological wind reporting, historical contexts, or when using a 32-point compass.
It follows the pattern: [Intercardinal Point] + 'by' + [Cardinal Point]. The intercardinal point (northwest) is the main direction, and the cardinal point (north) indicates the slight deviation towards it.
In practical navigation, GPS uses decimal degrees, making the term obsolete. However, it remains part of navigational theory, tradition, and is sometimes used in weather reports for wind direction.