deasil

[ dee-zuhl ]

adverbChiefly Scot.

clockwise or in a direction following the apparent course of the sun: considered as lucky or auspicious.

Origin of deasil

First recorded in 1765–75; from Scots Gaelic, Irish deiseal, Middle Irish dessel “toward the right, clockwise, following the sun (i.e., auspiciously),” equivalent to dess “right, south” + sel “turn, time”; see origin at dexter; contrasted with withershins

Compare withershins.

Words Nearby deasil

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use deasil in a sentence

They drank the water and then moved round the well deasil (sunwise), and before departing left an offering on the stone.
Fishes, Flowers, and Fire as Elements and Deities in the Phallic Faiths and Worship of the Ancient Religions of Greece, Babylon, | Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for deasil

deasil

/ (ˈdiːzəl, ˈdiːʃəl) Scot /

adverb

in the direction of the apparent course of the sun; clockwise

noun

motion in this direction

Origin of deasil

C18: Scot Gaelic deiseil

Compare withershins

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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