easting

American  

[ee-sting] / ˈi stɪŋ /

noun

1. Navigation. the distance due east made good on any course tending eastward; easterly departure.

2. a shifting eastward; easterly direction.

3. Surveying. a distance east from a north-south reference line.

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easting British  

/ ˈiːstɪŋ /

noun

1. nautical the net distance eastwards made by a vessel moving towards the east

2. cartography

   1. the distance eastwards of a point from a given meridian indicated by the first half of a map grid reference

   2. a longitudinal grid line Compare northing

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Etymology

Origin of easting

First recorded in 1620–30; east + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The bark County of Pembroke was running her easting down in the roaring forties off the Cape of Good Hope when she shipped a monstrous sea over the lee rail.

From Time Magazine Archive

For three days and nights they fought head winds, trying to make their easting.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

It was possible that the Dornoch had proceeded directly to the southward, after making less easting than was anticipated.

From Fighting for the Right by Shute, A. B.

That part of navigation which treats a ship's course as an angle, and the distance, difference of latitude, and easting or westing, as the sides of a right-angled triangle.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

And some were has-been sailing cracks of famous old renown, Had logged their eighteen easy when they ran their easting down With cargo, mails and passengers bound South from London Town ...

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 156, April 9, 1919 by Various