adv., etc. [Cf. older Flem. suydsuydoost (Kilian), Du. zuidzuidoost, G. südsüdost.] In or from the direction lying midway between south and south-east. Also as sb. and adj.
14[?]. Sailing Directions (Hakl. Soc., 1889), 11. Fro Leyrnes to the Hedelonde the cours is north northwest and south south est.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 380. And to the south southeaste [lay] a lowe longe lande.
1598. W. Phillip, trans. Linschoten, 165. We held our course south south East.
1638. Chilmead, trans. Hues’ Treat. Globes, V. (Hakl. Soc.), 140. I finde it to be the North norwest, and South south-east Rumbe.
a. 1691. Boyle, Hist. Air (1692), 192. A little Island, which bare off us South-South-East some four Leagues.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 264. [The valley] went winding away … to the south-east, and so to south-south-east.
1839. De la Beche, Rep. Geol. Cornwall, etc. i. 5. About eight miles in a … south-south-east direction.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXIII. 216/2. One principal street, running from south-south-east to north-north-west.
1893. Times, 8 July, 14/2. The wind had southerned a little from the previous day, and was about south-south-east.
Hence South-south-easterly, -eastward advs. and adjs.
1784. Phil. Trans., LXXIV. 203. 30° or 20° south-south-eastward.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 714. The high lands lie northeastward and south-southeastward…. The bank and high land … ranges nearly northerly and south-southeasterly.
