Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Motion according to the apparent course of the sun. See withershins.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb Clockwise; following the direction of the sun's movement in the Northern Hemisphere.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Gaelic (Scottish Gaelic?) deiseil.

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Examples

  • In his Fizzles the Irish word deasil, which means 'clockwise,' suddenly appears, and we recall that it is also used conspicuously as the first word in the Oxen of the Sun episode in Ulysses.

    Nayman of Noland Ellmann, Richard 1986

  • In addition, even though I knew that there were at least a few sites that linked to mine, google search “link: comments. deasil.com” did not return any hits.

    Google Webmaster Tools are Strange : #comments 2007

  • Various ceremonies were gone through, while the kindred of the deceased carried the body ashore, and, placing it on a bank long consecrated to the purpose, made the deasil around the departed.

    The Fair Maid of Perth 2008

  • Got out to the City Forest for my deasil run Wednesday was widdershins around the loop.

    Snow relocation accomplished jhetley 2007

  • This, which was called making the deasil, 59 both the leech and the assistants seemed to consider as a matter of the last importance to the accomplishment of a cure; and Waverley, whom pain rendered incapable of expostulation, and who indeed saw no chance of its being attended to, submitted in silence.

    Waverley 2004

  • It consists, as is well known, in the person who makes the _deasil_, walking three times round the person who is the object of the ceremony, taking care to move according to the course of the sun.

    The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 280, October 27, 1827 Various

  • This, which was called making the deasil, both the leech and the assistants seemed to consider as

    The Waverley 1877

  • Old Highlanders will still make the deasil around those whom they wish well to.

    The Waverley 1877

  • Various ceremonies were gone through, while the kindred of the deceased carried the body ashore, and, placing it on a bank long consecrated to the purpose, made the deasil around the departed.

    The Fair Maid of Perth St. Valentine's Day Walter Scott 1801

  • February 10th, 2009 at 2: 10 pm jet fuel is deasil fuel with additive to keep it from gelling up at alltitude.

    Alex Jones' Prison Planet.com 2009

Comments

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  • Clockwise. The opposite of widdershins.

    November 26, 2007

  • "She handed the tiny object to Brianna, who discovered it to be a small pierced-work tin brooch, rather tarnished, made in the shape of a heart.

    'That's a deasil charm, a muirninn,' Jocasta said, with a satisfied nod. 'Put it on the wean's skirts, behind.'

    'A charm? ... What kind of charm?'

    'Against the fairies,' Jocasta said. 'Keep it pinned to the lad's smock—always to the back, mind—and naught born of the Auld Folk will trouble him.'"

    —Diana Gabaldon, The Fiery Cross (NY: Bantam Dell, 2001), 652

    January 23, 2010

  • Also deiseal, deisal and deshil (James Joyce).

    December 14, 2017