abaft - Definitions from Dictionary.com

6 results for: abaft

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

a·baft

Audio Help [uh-baft, uh-bahft] Pronunciation Key Nautical

–preposition

1.	to the rear of; aft of: the fife rail abaft the mainmast.

–adverb

2.	in the direction of the stern; astern; aft.

[Origin: 1225–75; ME on baft, abaft, equiv. to a-¹ and on on + baft, OE bæftan contr. of be + æftan. See by, aft

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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abaft

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

a·baft Audio Help   (ə-bāft') Pronunciation Key
adv.   Toward the stern.

prep.   Toward the stern from.

[Middle English on baft : on, at; see on + baft, to the rear (from Old English beæftan, behind : be, by, at; see ambhi in Indo-European roots + æftan, behind; see apo- in Indo-European roots).]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
abaft

O.E. on bæftan "backwards," the second component itself a compound of be "by" + æftan "aft" (see aft). Since M.E. used exclusively of ships, the stern being the "after" part of a vessel.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

abaft
adverb
at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane; "stow the luggage aft"; "ships with square sails sail fairly efficiently with the wind abaft"; "the captain looked astern to see what the fuss was about" [syn: aft] [ant: fore]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Abaft

A*baft"\ ([.a]*b[.a]ft"), prep. [Pref. a- on + OE. baft, baften, biaften, AS. be[ae]ftan; be by + [ae]ftan behind. See After, Aft, By.] (Naut.) Behind; toward the stern from; as, abaft the wheelhouse.

Abaft the beam. See under Beam.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Abaft

A*baft"\, adv. (Naut.) Toward the stern; aft; as, to go abaft.

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