west by north: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare / SpecializedTechnical / Historical / Nautical
Quick answer
What does “west by north” mean?
A navigational compass direction, precisely 11.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A navigational compass direction, precisely 11.25 degrees west of due north (N 78°45′ W).
A precise, specific direction on the compass, falling between west-northwest and true north. Historically and in specialized nautical/meteorological contexts, it denotes a point on the 32-point compass rose.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in definition. Usage is equally rare in both variants, largely confined to historical texts, navigation manuals, and maritime contexts.
Connotations
Connotes traditional seamanship, precision navigation, and historical contexts (e.g., reading old ship logs, sailing on tall ships).
Frequency
Effectively zero in general language. Slightly higher frequency in British maritime historical contexts due to naval history, but negligible in modern use everywhere.
Grammar
How to Use “west by north” in a Sentence
The wind shifted to west by north.Set a course for west by north.The bearing is west by north.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “west by north” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The ship sailed west by north for six hours.
American English
- We continued steering west by north.
adjective
British English
- The west-by-north point of the compass.
American English
- A west-by-north heading.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical or geographical studies of navigation.
Everyday
Virtually never used. One would say 'just west of north' or give a degree bearing.
Technical
Used in historical navigation contexts, maritime archaeology, and when interpreting old maps or ship logs.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “west by north”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “west by north”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “west by north”
- Using it to mean 'west-northwest' (which is a different, more westerly point).
- Using it in everyday speech instead of simpler terms like 'a little west of north'.
- Incorrectly writing 'west by northern'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Northwest' (NW) is 45 degrees from north. 'West by north' (WbN) is only 11.25 degrees from north, making it much closer to north than to northwest.
You would almost never use it in modern conversation. Its primary use is when reading historical sailing logs, studying traditional navigation, or in specific maritime heritage contexts.
The traditional abbreviation is WbN.
Moving clockwise from north, the sequence is: North, North by East, North-Northeast, Northeast by North... eventually to West by North, then West-Northwest, then West by South.
A navigational compass direction, precisely 11.
West by north is usually technical / historical / nautical in register.
West by north: in British English it is pronounced /ˌwɛst baɪ ˈnɔːθ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌwɛst baɪ ˈnɔrθ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term, not an idiom.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a clock face where 12 is North. 'West by North' is like moving from 12 (North) slightly towards 9 (West)—just 'by' a little bit.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISE DIRECTION IS A FIXED POINT ON A CIRCLE.
Practice
Quiz
In the 32-point compass system, 'west by north' is how many degrees from true north?