northing

American  

[nawr-thing, -thing] / ˈnɔr θɪŋ, -ðɪŋ /

noun

Navigation.

1. northward movement or deviation.

2. distance due north made on any course tending northward.

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northing British  

/ ˈnɔːθɪŋ, -ðɪŋ /

noun

1. nautical movement or distance covered in a northerly direction, esp as expressed in the resulting difference in latitude

2. astronomy a north or positive declination

3. cartography

   1. the distance northwards of a point from a given parallel indicated by the second half of a map grid reference

   2. a latitudinal grid line Compare easting

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Etymology

Origin of northing

First recorded in 1660–70; north + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Hitherto their course had been easterly, with a little northing, but now they turned their backs to the Lake, which they had held on the right-hand since crossing the Luapula, and struck almost north.

From The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume II (of 2), 1869-1873 Continued By A Narrative Of His Last Moments And Sufferings, Obtained From His Faithful Servants Chuma And Susi by Waller, Horace

He swung her about, a ticklish feat, and paralleled the beach to the north, and just off the beach, after an hour of northing, he spied the distress signals—two, three, yes, and four big torches.

From Wide Courses by Connolly, James B. (James Brendan)

Are not the periods of those diurnal diseases more obstinate, that commence many hours before the southing or northing of the moon, than of those which commence at those times?

From Zoonomia, Vol. I Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus

Now, I pull my traps right down past there every day," said an old lobster fisherman, "and I swanny I ain't never seen northing of this here pesky critter.

From Frank Merriwell's Cruise by Standish, Burt L.

Well, we carried on for a matter of four-and-twenty hours, with a little more northing in the wind, when we made land again, and hauled up two or three points to clear it.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Vol. 9 by Various