sou'west

/saʊˈwɛst/
noun
  1. A strong wind or storm coming from the southwest.
    • We battened down the hatches before the sou'west hit the coast.
    • The fishing boats hurried back to port as the sou'west began to blow.
    • The old sailor knew a sou'west was coming by the way the clouds gathered.
  2. A waterproof hat with a wide back brim, worn especially by sailors to protect against rain and wind.
    • He pulled his sou'west low over his eyes as the rain started.
    • The crew all wore yellow sou'westers and oilskin coats.
    • She hung her sou'west on a hook by the door to dry.
adjective
  1. Relating to or coming from the southwest.
    • A sou'west gale forced them to change direction.
    • They sailed on a sou'west course toward the island.
    • The sou'west wind brought cold, damp weather.
adverb
  1. Toward or in the direction of the southwest.
    • The ship turned sou'west to avoid the storm.
    • We hiked sou'west along the coastal trail.
    • The birds flew sou'west for the winter.