The phrase "north by west" is a reference to a compass point. It means to be headed in a direction that is slightly west of due north. Other words that can be used to describe this direction include "northwest," "north-northwest," and "nor'west." These synonyms are often used interchangeably with "north by west," but some may be more specific depending on the context. For example, "north-northwest" may indicate a sharper turn towards the northwest than "north by west." Regardless of the specific wording, all of these phrases describe a direction that is generally towards the northwest but not quite directly west.