[f. SOUTH; cf. northerly, easterly.]
1. Situated in or towards the south; southern.
1551. Recorde, Cast. Knowl. (1556), 263. The one sorte are called Northerlye constellations, the other sorte Southerly constellations.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 58 b. In hote and Southerlie Countreis.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 691. The Southerliest Nations of Africa.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., 35. In the more Southerly part of the great Promontory.
1768. G. White, Selborne, xiii. On account of my living in the most southerly county.
1814. Scott, Diary, 22 Aug., in Lockhart. The southerly line of what is called the Long Island.
1865. W. G. Palgrave, Journ. thro’ Arabia, II. 79. We found the southerly plateau more … uneven than the northern.
1869. Dunkin, Midn. Sky, 32. Regulus is the most southerly.
2. Of the wind: Blowing from the south. Southerly buster (see BUSTER 3).
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 397. When the Winde is Southerly, I know a Hawke from a Handsaw.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 141. They were enforced to stay by a contrary wind, being Southerly.
1721. Lond. Gaz., No. 5966/1. The Southerly and Westerly Winds keep the Fleets still at Elsenab.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), s.v. Wind, Along the coast of Guinea,… the southerly and south-west winds blow perpetually.
a. 1822. Shelley, On an Icicle, i. Where southerly breezes Waft repose to some bosom as faithful as fair.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 47. In the greater part of Europe, the southerly and westerly winds bring rain.
3. Of distance: Extending southwards.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., IV. iii. 153. The Southerly Distance is 172 … Leagues.
4. Tending or facing southwards.
1789. J. Williams, Min. Kingd., I. 136. They are turned from the south-west to a southerly direction.
1857. Grindon, Life: its Nature (ed. 2), iii. 31. No dwellings are so pleasant … as those which have a southerly aspect.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, I. 243. We mounted on the other side of the valley in a southerly direction.
Hence Southerliness, ‘the being on or toward the South’ (Bailey, 1727, vol. II.).
