windward, phr., a., and adv.
(ˈwɪndwəd)
Also 6 Sc. wyndwart, vynduart, 7 winward, 9 win'ard.
[f. wind n.1 + -ward. (In all senses the opposite of leeward.)]
A. Phr. to (the) windward (also formerly with other preps.): to the windward side or direction.
| 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 42 The said galiasse in schort tyme cam on vynduart of the tothir schip. 1562 Winȝet Cert. Tractatis i. Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 4 To lat down ane grete dele thair hie sailis, and hald to wyndwart. 1626 Capt. J. Smith Accid. Yng. Seamen 18 A sayle, how stands she, to windward or leyward. 1666 Monk Let. in Quaritch's Rough List, No. 202 (1900) Oct. Sir William Berkeley kept his course, at which a gun was fired at winward of him. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 281 About Noon he was got to the Windward. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. (Globe) 329 The Sound coming from the Windward. 1833 H. Martineau Charmed Sea iv. 53 The heavens were grey, and there was a very dark line to windward. 1876 M. E. Braddon J. Haggard's Dau. i. 27 Before Joshua could reach him, the first of those giant masses of water struck on the rock to windward of him. |
b. In
fig. phrases, such as
to get to windward of, to gain an advantage over (
cf. wind n.1 3 b);
to keep to windward of, to keep out of the reach of (
cf. windy 2 d);
to cast an anchor to windward, to adopt measures for security.
| 1783 Cowper Let. to J. Newton 7 Mar., That my vanity may not get too much to windward. 1882 H. De Windt Equator 12 His intention of ‘getting to windward of those {oqq}Maylays{cqq}’. 1888 Rider Haggard Mr. Meeson's Will vi, If I happen to have got to windward of the young woman, why, so much the better for me. 1890 [see leewardly]. 1919 19th Cent. Dec. 1152 This policy was based on a desire to keep an anchor to the windward, to secure the United States for a friend. |
B. adj. 1. Having a direction towards,
i.e. opposite to that of, the wind; moving against the wind.
| 1627 Capt. J. Smith Sea Gram. x. 47 You say..a windward Tide when the Tide runnes against the wind. 1739 (title) A description of the Windward Passage and Gulf of Florida. c 1850 Rudim. Navig. 56 Windward Great Circle Sailing. |
b. Of or in reference to a sailing vessel, expressing ability to sail close to the wind:
= weatherly 2.
| 1895 Outing (U.S.) XXVI. 382/1 She is so slender and graceful that one is prone to wonder that such prettiness is consistent with windward power. 1901 Daily Chron. 27 Sept. 5/7 A better windward boat than the Columbia. |
2. Situated towards the direction from which the wind blows; facing the wind.
| a 1687 [see leeward A. 2]. 1725 De Foe Engl. Tradesman iii. (1732) I. 21 His windward leg being hurt by a bruise. 1731 Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Blight, On the Wind-ward Side of the Trees. 1783 Justamond tr. Raynal's Hist. Indies V. 5 Those that lie nearest the East, have been called the Windward Islands; the others the Leeward, on account of the wind's blowing generally from the eastern point in those quarters. 1858 Froude Hist. Eng. IV. xxii. 424 The vessel laying slightly over, the windward tier slipped across the deck. |
C. adv. Towards the wind, to windward.
| 1690 in 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. iv. 243 The fleet that came from Plymouth..were plying windward of that place. 1700 Tyrrell Hist. Eng. II. 833 Tacking about, and so getting Windward of them, they..gain'd a great Advantage. |
Hence
ˈwindwardly a. = B. 1 b, 2;
ˈwindwardmost a., furthest to windward;
ˈwindwardness, ‘windward’ or weatherly quality.
| 1657 R. Ligon Barbadoes (1673) 23 The most *windwardly Island of all the Caribbies. a 1734 North Lives (1826) III. 92 The characters of the several vessels,..some windwardly, some not stay well, some slugs. 1902 Edin. Rev. Oct. 422 The island is the most windwardly of the whole Caribbean Archipelago. |
| a 1625 H. Manwayring Sea-mans Dict. (1644) s.v. Weather Bow, Any thing that is to the *wind-ward⁓most-side, we say, it is the weather-part, or a-weather. 1777 Summary Acc. Tobago 78 A mile from the windwardmost point of Minster-Bay. |
| a 1618 Raleigh Invention of Shipping (1650) 29 By reason of their ready staying and turning, by reason of their *windwardnesse. |