sou'wester n also south-wester DAE southwester 1 (1840-), SMYTH 639 for sense 1.
1 A fisherman's waterproof hat with a broad brim, elongated and sloping at the back, with side flaps tied under the chin, CAPE ANN, LINCOLN, OIL HAT.
1836 [WIX]2 124 The distribution of a south-wester, a fox-trap, or a pair of mokasins, was not a ... matter for Divine interference.1855 WHITE MS Journal 31 May 1 Souwester 2/9. 1858 [LOWELL] i, 208 Besides a battered 'sou-wester'. . . 1874 Maritime Mo iii, 548 He was evidently bent on his ordinary avocations as a fisherman, having on his well-patched canvass jacket and sou'wester, and carrying with him all his fishing gear. 1936 DEVINE 115 He sold ... oil clothing, which was a specialty and included south-westers, Cape Anns and 'Lincolns.' 1940 SCAMMELL 9 "Squid Jiggin' Ground": God bless my sou'wester, there's skipper John Chaffey. 1978 Evening Telegram 9 Sep, p. 14 A linkum is an oil hat with a long back on it to protect your shoulders and the round oil hat that was tied underneath your chin was the sou'wester.
2 Attrib, comb sou'wester block: wooden form or pattern used in making fisherman's waterproof hat.
[1884] 1897 Nfld Law Reports 8 Bequeaths him 'one thousand pounds instead of twelve hundred in stock and cash, the stock to be computed at first cost, souwester block and sewing machines to be included at inventory value.'
sou'wester hat: see sense 1.
1955 DOYLE (ed) 43 "My Father's Old Sou'weste'r": He said to me before he died, /'There's one request I'll make: / Go take that old sou-wester hat / And wear it for my sake.'
