southwester: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowtechnical, nautical, historical
Quick answer
What does “southwester” mean?
A strong wind or storm blowing from the southwest.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A strong wind or storm blowing from the southwest.
A waterproof hat with a broad brim at the back, worn especially by sailors in stormy weather.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar, but the hat sense is marginally more frequent in British English due to stronger maritime traditions.
Connotations
Evokes imagery of traditional seafaring and stormy weather.
Frequency
Rare in everyday modern conversation in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “southwester” in a Sentence
[a/the] + ADJ + southwester + VERBsailor + in/with + a + sou'westerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “southwester” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The southwester gale delayed the ferry.
American English
- The southwester storm surge flooded the coastal road.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical or meteorological texts describing weather patterns.
Everyday
Very rarely used, except in specific coastal communities or historical references.
Technical
Used in maritime weather reports and historical sailing manuals.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “southwester”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “southwester”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “southwester”
- Using it as a general term for any strong wind.
- Misspelling as 'southwestern'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Southwester' is a noun for a specific wind or a hat. 'Southwesterly' is an adjective/adverb describing direction (coming from or moving toward the southwest).
No, it does not refer to a person. It only refers to the weather phenomenon or the type of hat.
Both 'southwester' and the contracted form 'sou'wester' are correct, with 'sou'wester' being very common for the hat.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialized term. You will encounter it mostly in historical, literary, or specific technical (nautical/meteorological) contexts.
A strong wind or storm blowing from the southwest.
Southwester is usually technical, nautical, historical in register.
Southwester: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈwɛstə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaʊθˈwɛstər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sou'wester and oilskins”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A SOUTHWESTER is a WIND from the SOUTHWEST, or a hat that shields your WEST side from the SOUTHern rain.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE AS AN ADVERSARY (the wind as a forceful opponent)
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'southwester' LEAST likely to be used?