[uh-baft, uh-bahft] 
Nautical| 1. | to the rear of; aft of: the fife rail abaft the mainmast. |
| 2. | in the direction of the stern; astern; aft. |
| a·baft (ə-bāft') 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).] |
