Etymology: In sense 1 apparently < west adv. + -en suffix⁴. In sense 2 probably < westen (in westen-wind n. at westen adv. 1), apparently reanalysed as west adv. + -en suffix⁴; for a parallel development in other Germanic languages see discussion at westen adv. In Shetland use probably ultimately < the unattested Norn reflex of the early Scandinavian word represented by Old Icelandic vestan westen adv. Compare northen adj., southen adj., easten adj.With westen sea n. at Compounds compare southen sea n. at southen adj. Compounds, easten sea n. at easten adj. Compounds.

Etymology: Cognate with Middle Dutch westen , westene from or to the west, Old Saxon westan , westana from the west (Middle Low German westen to the west), Old High German westana from or to the west (Middle High German westen from, in, or to the west), Old Icelandic vestan from the west, Old Swedish västan from or in the west (Swedish västan , now archaic), Old Danish wæstan from, in, or to the west (Danish vesten , now archaic or regional) < the Germanic base of west adv. + a Germanic suffix forming adverbs expressing motion ‘from’ (see nethen adv.). In sense 2 perhaps after use in phrases. Use as a noun (in sense ‘the west’) is attested as a later development in several Germanic languages (compare the forms listed at west adv., adj., n.¹, and prep.). Compare bewest adv. and prep., and also northen adv., easten adv., southen adv.In Old English two distinct words: westane (rare, only in the translation of Orosius Hist.) and westan ; compare parallel formations among the Germanic cognates cited above. With Old English westan-wind compare Middle Dutch westenwint , westenewint (Dutch westenwind ), Middle Low German westenwint , westenewint , Old High German westanwint , westanawint (Middle High German westenwint ), Old Icelandic vestanvindr , Swedish västanvind , Danish vestenvind ; in later use frequently with the first element reanalysed either as noun or adjective (compare westen adj.).