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definitions

easterly

[ee-ster-lee]
adjective
  1. moving, directed, or situated toward the east: an easterly course.
  2. (especially of a wind) coming from the east: an easterly gale.
adverb
  1. toward the east.
  2. from the east.
noun, plural east·er·lies.
  1. a wind that blows from the east.

Origin of easterly

1540–50; obsolete easter eastern (see easterling) + -ly
Related formseast·er·li·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for easterlies

Historical Examples of easterlies

  • The “westerlies” meet “easterlies” from the polar highs at about 50-60° N. and S.

    Deserts

    A. S. Walker

British Dictionary definitions for easterlies

easterly

adjective
  1. of, relating to, or situated in the east
adverb, adjective
  1. towards or in the direction of the east
  2. from the eastan easterly wind
noun plural -lies
  1. a wind from the east
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
Word Origin and History for easterlies

easterly

adv.

1540s, from easter (late 14c.), variant of eastern + -ly (2). As a noun meaning "easterly wind," by 1901. Old English easterlic meant "pertaining to Easter."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
easterlies in Science

easterly

[ē′stər-lē]
  1. A wind, especially a prevailing wind, that blows from the east. The trade winds in tropical regions and the prevailing winds in the polar regions are easterlies. See illustration at wind.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.