down east

== English == === Alternative forms === Down East Downeast === Etymology === Typically traced to 1817 nautical terminology referring to direction not location: in the warm months, the prevailing winds along the Atlantic coast of New England and Canada blow from the southwest, meaning ships sail downwind to go east. === Noun === down east Northeastern New England (particularly the easternmost section of the U.S. state of Maine) and Canada's Maritime provinces (sometimes including the Gaspé Peninsula and Newfoundland), an area that corresponds to the historical French territory of Acadia. === Adjective === down east Of the Maritimes, Maine or adjoining parts. === Adverb === down east In or into the Maritimes, Maine or adjoining parts. === Derived terms === Down Easter down-easter === References === "down east", in OED Online, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000. === Further reading === Down East on Wikipedia.Wikipedia