southwest etymology

Etymology

The word "southwest" is a compound word, consisting of two words:

  • "South": Comes from the Old English word "sūþ," which means "toward the sun" (referring to the direction of the sun at noon).
  • "West": Comes from the Old English word "west," which comes from the Proto-Germanic root "*westrō," meaning "toward the sunset."

Meaning

Southwest refers to the direction that is halfway between south and west. It is one of the four cardinal directions, along with north, east, and west.

Origin

The term "southwest" has been used in English since at least the 11th century. It can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which is one of the oldest surviving historical texts in English. The word "southwest" was first used to describe a region of England that was located in the southwest corner of the country. Over time, the term came to be used to refer to the direction in general.

Usage

The word "southwest" is used in a variety of contexts, including:

  • Geography: To describe the direction southwest.
  • Meteorology: To describe a wind or weather system that is moving from the southwest.
  • Sailing and navigation: To describe a course that is headed southwest.

southwest relate terms

  • south

    Etymology and Origin of South The word south originates from the Proto Indo European

  • west

    Etymology The word west comes from the Old English word west which in turn derives

  • vesper

    Etymology and Origin The word vesper comes from the Latin word vesper which means

  • southwestern

    Etymology The term southwestern is derived from the following South A cardinal dire

  • southwest

    Etymology The word southwest is a compound word consisting of two words South Co

  • gehenna

    Etymology The word gehenna comes from the Hebrew word גֵיהֶנָּם Gehinnom wh

  • Sicily

    Etymology From the Latin Sicilia borrowed from the Ancient Greek Σικελίᾱ

  • bronco

    Etymology The word bronco comes from the Spanish word bronco meaning rough or wil

  • Anasazi

    Etymology The name Anasazi is derived from the Navajo word anásází which means a

  • Athabaskan

    Etymology From the Athabaskan word dene or dené meaning the people Meaning Th

  • sarsen

    Etymology and Origin The word sarsen is derived from the Old French word sarrazin wh

  • Chelsea

    Etymology Chelesa An Old English place name meaning landing place for chalk Meani

  • direction

    Etymology The word direction comes from the Latin word directio which means a strai

  • stew

    Etymology The word stew comes from the Middle English word stewen which in turn come

  • pinot

    Etymology The etymology of the word pinot is uncertain but there are several theories