WORD OF THE DAY

widdershins [wid -er-shinz]

1. In a direction contrary to the sun (perhaps considered unlucky)

2. Anticlockwise

3. On a trajectory opposed to the usual; on the wrong course

Chiefly Scottish, from early 16th century Middle Low German

“Lane saw me and tipped his derby widdershins, which was his way of acknowledging me.” (Stephen King, Joyland, 2013)

“Mr Anthony Lammas, whose long legs had been covering ground at the rate of five miles an hour, slackened his pace, for he felt the need of ordering a mind which for some hours had been dancing widdershins.” (John Buchan, The Free Fishers, 2017)

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