nor-nor-westadv.adj.n.
/ˌnɔːnɔːˈwɛst/, U.S. /ˌnɔrˌnɔrˈwɛst/ A. adv.
= north-north-west adv.Occasionally in allusion to Hamlet; cf. quot 1604 at north-north-west adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > direction > cardinal points > North > North-west > [adverb] > north-north-west
north-north-west?c1475
nor-nor-west1580
north-north-westward1784
north-north-westerly1913
1580 W. Bourne Regiment for Sea (new ed.) sig. 74 If that you wil go unto the porte of Pannama, then their course is for to goe Nornorwest or Norwest and by Nore, or Nore and by West as the lande will give them passage.
1582 Minutes in E. G. R. Taylor Troublesome Voy. Capt. E. Fenton (1959) 224 Upon Lammas Day..beyng abowt 4 degrees to ye northe of ye line, and by estimation 100 leages according to my own reconyng from Cape de verga & nornorwest ye ilands of Cape de verd [etc.].
1897 G. B. Shaw Let. 11 May (1965) I. 759 I am only a brute nor'-nor'-west.
1918 C. Morley Shandygaff 303 According to our Mercator's projection..there was a little known region lying nor'nor'west of Blackwell's Island.
1976 Science 27 Aug. 754/3 Lowell was only ‘mad nor'nor'west’ and made extremely valuable contributions to astronomy.
= north-north-west adj. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > direction > cardinal points > North > North-west > [adjective] > north-north-west
north-north-westa1398
nor-nor-west1612
north-north-westerly1844
north-north-westward1990
1612 T. Dekker If it be not Good ii. i. 153 Nat. How blowes the winde Syr? Leaf. Wynde! tis Nore-Nore-West.
= north-north-west n. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > direction > cardinal points > North > North-west > [noun] > north-north-west
north-north-westa1387
nor-nor-westa1632
north-north-westward1862
a1632 J. Webster & W. Rowley Cure for Cuckold (1661) iv. i The Winds themselves do copulate, and bring forth issue... By meeting they have engendred Nor-East, Sou-East... Of them Were begotten Nor-Nor-East, Nor-Nor-West, Sou-Sou-East [etc.].
1681 T. D'Urfey Sir Barnaby Whigg 42 But if you will have a taste of my skill, you shall: you shall hear me say, and Box my Compass... Nore-West; Nore-West and by Nore, Nore, Nore-West, Nore and by West, Nore.
1718 N. Rowe tr. Lucan Pharsalia i. 728 Circius..is placed as a Nore-west or Nore-nore-west.
1845 H. W. Herbert Warwick Woodlands 155 Millions of stars twinkling gayly—and the wind blowing freshly but pleasantly out of the nor-norwest.
a1882 H. W. Longfellow John Endicott v, in Poet. Wks. (1886–91) V. 365 The cargo all aboard, Cleared for Barbadoes, and a fair wind blowing From nor'-nor'-west.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.adj.n.1580