southing

American  

[sou-thing] / ˈsaʊ ðɪŋ /

noun

1. Astronomy.

   1. the transit of a heavenly body across the celestial meridian.

   2. south declination.

2. movement or deviation toward the south.

3. distance due south made by a vessel.

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southing British  

/ ˈsaʊðɪŋ /

noun

1. nautical movement, deviation, or distance covered in a southerly direction

2. astronomy a south or negative declination

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Etymology

Origin of southing

First recorded in 1650–60; south + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

southing

Consequently the southing bergs must have piled up on the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts, as though Jack Frost and King Neptune, bored with spring gambling, had laid aside their sea dice.

From Time Magazine Archive

When they had made sufficient southing, Belbeis again headed for the Suez road, and after another two hours' ride this was reached without accident.

From Under the Rebel's Reign by Charles Neufeld

Who could ask a better stimulus for his imagination than the annual southing of this mighty host?

From The Foot-path Way by Bradford Torrey

We were obliged to stand a long way to the westward, and went to the northward of Juan Fernandez above a degree, before we had a wind that we could make any southing with.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 17 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Robert Kerr

At daylight on the 15th, we were again off Rivers Peak, notwithstanding our having carried a press of sail in order to make southing during the night.

From Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836 Volume I. - Proceedings of the First Expedition, 1826-1830 by Robert Fitzroy