a. (sb.) and adv. Forms: 6 leaward, Sc. leuart, 7 le(y)ward, 7– leeward. Also see LEEWARDS. [f. LEE sb.1 + -WARD.]
A. adj.
† 1. Of a ship: That makes much leeway. Obs.
a. 1618. Raleigh, R. Navy, 13. The high charging of ships it is that … makes them extreame Leeward.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 127. What makes her Leeward or keep a good Wind.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Leeward ship, a vessel that falls much to leeward of her course, when sailing close-hauled, and consequently loses much ground.
2. gen. Situated on the side turned away from the wind; having a direction away from the wind. Opposed to WINDWARD. Const. of. Hence occas. Sheltered. Leeward shore = LEE-SHORE. Leeward-tide, -trade (see quots. 1721, 1735). Leeward-way = LEE-WAY.
1666. Dk. Albemarle, in Quaritch, Rough List, Oct. (1900), 102. Being Leeward of them standing to ye eastward.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith., iii. (1691), 53. The Windward Ship has a fairer Mark at a Leeward Ship, than vice versa.
1696. Phillips, Leeward Tide, is when the Tide and Wind go both one way.
1705. Lond. Gaz., No. 4113/2. The Wind slackened upon a Leeward Tide.
1727. Arbuthnot, Tables Anc. Coins, Navig. Ancients, 230. Because of the great quantity of leeward way.
1735. Bailey, Leeward Trade, is when the Tide and Wind go both one Way.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., Introd. 38. Wanderers shipwreck’d on a leeward shore.
1804. Naval Chron., XI. 340. There was a small island leeward of the launch.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, I. xxv. For our storm-toss’d skiff we seek Short shelter in this leeward creek.
1853. Phillips, Rivers Yorksh., v. 157. The annual fall of rain is not the same in amount … on the windward side as on the leeward side of a mountain.
1893. B. D. Howard, in Academy, 25 Nov., 467/2. ‘X‘ represent me as saying—what he deems preposterous—that the dirty Ainus can be leeward of deer and not be scented by them.
3. absol. or quasi-sb. = LEE sb.1 2, 2 b. In phrases on, upon, to (the) leeward (of).
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 41. Heise the myszen, and change it ouer to leuart.
1595. Maynarde, Drake’s Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 22. We saw a shippe on the leaward of us.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., i. 422. They sun-burnt Africk keepe Upon the leeward still.
1695. Lond. Gaz., No. 3135/3. It blowing a fresh Gale, Captain Dowglass … was necessitated to Fight to Leeward.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. v. 341. The proa … as she appears when viewed from the leeward.
1800. Weems, Washington, xiv. (1877), 209. Finding he was going fast to leeward.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, vi. 77. The priest … exhorted the lazar … not to speak to any, or to answer unless to leeward of the person spoken to.
1872. Baker, Nile Tribut., viii. 135. Forked sticks, driven into the ground to leeward of the fire.
fig. 1826. Scott, Woodst., xxii. His friend … ought not … to be suffered to drop to leeward in the conversation.
B. adv. Toward the lee (see LEE sb.1 2).
1785. Burns, Death & Dr. Hornbook, v. Tho’ leeward whyles, against my will, I took a bicker.
