Definition

1. Noun:
   • A compass point: "North by west" is a precise direction on a compass. It is one point (11.25 degrees) west of due north. This term is part of the traditional 32-point compass rose used in navigation.

Usage

• "North by west" is used to indicate a very specific direction, more precise than simply "north" or "northwest." It is primarily used in nautical, aviation, surveying, and other technical navigation contexts.
• It is a fixed compound noun phrase. The prepositions "by" indicates a slight deviation from the cardinal direction.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The captain set a course of north by west to avoid the storm.
  • From our position, the lighthouse bears north by west.
  • The wind shifted from north-northwest to north by west.

Advanced Usage

• In a Sequence: On a full 32-point compass, the sequence moving clockwise from north is: North, North by east, North-northeast, Northeast by north, Northeast, Northeast by east, East-northeast, East by north, East, etc. "North by west" is the point immediately before "North-northwest."

Variants and Related Words

• NbW: The standard abbreviation for "north by west."
• Cardinal Point: One of the four main directions: north, south, east, west.
• Intercardinal Point: A direction halfway between cardinal points, e.g., northeast, southwest.
• North-northwest (NNW): The compass point that is two points (22.5 degrees) west of due north, the point immediately following "north by west" on the compass.

Synonyms

• NbW (abbreviation).
• Compass bearing of 348.75 degrees (in modern 360-degree notation).

Notes

• There are no phrasal verbs or idioms for this specific technical term. Its meaning is fixed within the system of compass points.

Noun

1. the compass point that is one point west of due north