This old salt remembers that the compass card was divided into 32 "points" of 11.25 degrees each. These were, going clockwise, North, North by East, North Northeast, Northeast by North, Northeast, Northeast by East, East Northeast, East By North, East, and so on. Just to make it more fun, each point was subdivided into quarter points. For example, the subdivisions between North and North by East were North a quarter East, North a half East, and North three quarters East. A typical course order to the helmsman would be "Steer Nor' Nor'East a half East".
http://www.tighar.org/forum/Highlights101_120/highlights112....

And see
http://www.rootsweb.com/~vavfar/bearing8.html
(table)


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Note added at 1 hr (2007-06-28 22:18:23 GMT)
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WSW 1/4 W = 250.3125 °

1/4 is a rhumb or compass point according to Termium but I don't find many examples of rhumb in use. I am pasting the Termium extract below as well as a list of the compass points as provided by the free dic:
3. Subject Field(s)
– Stations, instruments et équipements météorologiques
– Aides à la navigation fluviale et maritime

Subject Field(s)
– Weather Stations and Meteorological Instruments and Equipment
– Marine and River Navigation Aids

Subject Field(s)
– Estaciones, instrumentos y equipo meteorológico
– Ayuda a la navegación marítima y en el rios


rhumb Source CORRECT, MASC

rumb Source CORRECT, SEE OBS, MASC

rumb de vent Source MASC

quart Source MASC

aire de vent Source FEM

aire-de-vent Source FEM rhumb Source CORRECT

point of the compass Source

compass point Source

point of compass Source rumbo Source MASC

vientos de compás Source

cuartas de aguja Source
DEF – Quantité angulaire comprise entre deux des trente-deux aires de vent du compas, et égale à 11° 15'. Source
CONT – Chaque arc de 11° 15' de la circonférence de la Rose des vents porte le nom de «rumb de vent» [...] Source

OBS – Il y a le rumb de vent du compas et le rumb de vent réel ou corrigé, qui diffèrent entre eux d'une quantité égale à la variation, c'est-à-dire à la déclinaison de l'aiguille aimantée. Source

OBS – On a écrit et on écrit encore parfois «rumb». Source
DEF – The angular distance between two successive points of the compass = 11°15'. Source
CONT – Points of the compass. ... A compass card is a circular card that is attached to the needles of a compass. On the [mariner's] compass card are marked the thirty-two points. Source

compass point - definition of compass point by the Free Online ...sou'-west, southwest, SW - the compass point midway between south and west; at 225 degrees. southwest by west, SWbW - the compass point that is one point ...
www.thefreedictionary.com/compass point - 35k - Cached - Similar pages

Hope this helps and good luck!

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Note added at 20 hrs (2007-06-29 17:00:39 GMT)
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Hi Thurayya,
Perhaps this will help: Here is a definition for west by south
n. Abbr. WbS
The direction or point on the mariner's compass halfway between due west and west-southwest, or 101°15 west of due north.
adv. & adj.
Toward or from west by south.

Just read an article on compass points - I think it will help you get an understanding of it. Or check the free dictionary link I posted earlier - imo, this is what it means.

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Note added at 20 hrs (2007-06-29 17:03:07 GMT)
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FINAL: You do not even have to use one compass point: you can simply say West by South.