21 Ancient and Unusual Directional Terms

Hearing phrases like 'look forward,' 'move onward,' or 'stop making it awkward' wouldn’t make you think twice.

However, it’s unlikely you’ve ever been directed to go netherward or pancakeward. The English language has a treasure trove of fascinating yet rarely used directional terms, such as the examples listed below.

1. Toward the Moon

Buzz Aldrin is familiar with journeys moonwards, though few others are. The terms moonward and moonwards emerged in the 1800s, and a 1995 edition of Popular Science features this celestial term: “No one witnessed the live broadcast from the Apollo 13 cabin as it headed moonward—since the networks didn’t air it.”

2. and 3. Toward Death and Toward the Grave

This term originated in the late 14th century, yet it remains as eternal and unavoidable as ever. Whether we like it or not, we’re all headed deathward. Alternatively, you might opt for graveward, a term that gained traction in the mid-19th century.

4. Toward the Clod

This term might seem to imply “in the direction of a clod,” akin to moving oafward or buffoonward. However, here, clod signifies “earthy,” so clodward translates to “toward the ground.” An 1883 lecture by William Arthur mentions “The most clodward thinker who ever gazed downward.” This isn’t necessarily derogatory—it implies a grounded, earthy quality, which isn’t entirely negative.

5. Downward Bound

Dating back to the ancient days of Old English, netherward has described movement downward or toward the depths. Yet, it carries a far more intriguing tone.

6. and 7. Toward Heaven and Toward the Firmament

In contrast to netherward is heavenward, a term that, since the 14th century, has specifically denoted movement toward the heavens or simply upward. A 2006 Chicago Tribune article about a rocket enthusiast illustrates its continued relevance: “He anticipates the moment when Carpe Diem, his 18-foot homemade rocket, soars heavenward.” A more elaborate alternative is firmamentwards, which emerged in the 1880s.

8. and 9. Toward God and Toward the Devil

Dating back to the 14th century, Godward has been in use. The antithesis of heavenward and Godward is devilward, a term that has existed since at least the 16th century.

10. Toward the Grouse

Before you complain, let us clarify that a grouse is a reddish bird, so this term would be akin to chickenwards or ostrichwards (if such words existed)—grousewards signifies “toward a grouse.” An 1853 letter by Arthur Hugh Clough paints a solitary picture: “The Commons have gone grousewards, leaving almost no one to invite one to dinner or anything else.”

11. Toward the Pocket

There’s a professional wrestler named Orange Cassidy who embodies a laid-back persona. Cassidy dramatically slips his hands into the pockets of his denim joggers, and once he does, watch out—it’s like Popeye after eating spinach. Opponents strive to stop Cassidy’s hands from heading pocketwards. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) cites its “sole evidence” of the term from H.G. Wells in 1909: “He gestured pocketwards, convincing us he carried a sample.”

12. Toward Mother

For a baby, directions like east, west, north, and south are insignificant compared to motherwards. People of all ages often turn that way, as highlighted in an 1893 OED example: “It doesn’t prevent the dying son from glancing motherwards.”

13. Toward Romance

This term shouldn’t be mixed up with romance words like sweetie or bae. This direction can be tricky, as hinted at in a 1920 example by Rose Macaulay: “He was also leaning romancewards, straying from the domain of absolute truth.”

14. Toward the Palace

This term has appeared in royal settings since the 15th century, but it reached its most poetic expression in an 1845 excerpt from Ladies’ National Magazine: “The trees, draped in crimson and umbered brown, appear astonished, like a group of dowagers in court attire, abruptly halted on their palaceward journey.”

15. Toward the Self

This introspective term has existed since the late 19th century. A 1931 example from The Bookman resonates deeply: “There are extended periods when a depression turning selfwards casts a shadow of uncertainty and gloom.”

16. Toward the Couch

On the topic of melancholy, “Tend to your couchward journey,” as penned by a poet known as Nightlark in 1852.

17. and 18. Toward the Nose and Nosewards

Originating in the early 20th century, the term nasalward stems from ophthalmology—it denotes “positioned toward the nose.” On the subject of the nose: As a child, your mother might have warned, “Don’t move that finger nosewards,” another term signifying “toward the nose,” which emerged in the 1860s.

19. Toward That Place

Since Old English times, people have moved thitherward, or thitherwards, both meaning roughly “in that direction.”

20. Toward the Tavern

This term is straightforward, but if unclear, consider this 1892 example from the Daily News: “Thirty young men … quickly hurried tavernwards.”

21. Toward Pancakes

The OED defines this term as “toward or for a pancake” and notes it was “[a]pparently a one-time use.” Understandable. It’s also marked “Obsolete.” Nonsense. From the invention of batter to eternity, people have been and will continue to be pulled pancakeward.