abaft

[ uh-baft, uh-bahft ]

/ əˈbæft, əˈbɑft /

Nautical

SEE SYNONYMS FOR abaft ON THESAURUS.COM

preposition

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

adverb

in the direction of the stern; astern; aft.

Words nearby abaft

abacus, abadan, abaddon, abadie's sign of exophthalmic goiter, abadie's sign of tabes dorsalis, abaft, abagtha, abailard, abakan, abalone, abamp

Origin of abaft

1225–75; Middle English on baft, abaft, equivalent to a-¹ and on on + baft, Old English bæftan contraction of be + æftan. See by¹ aft¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for abaft

The fore and main tops are sent up from abaft, and the mizzen from forward.
The Seaman's Friend|Richard Henry Dana
The high sharp prow had struck a glancing blow just abaft the anchor and sliced away the whole starboard side of the forecastle.
Command|William McFee
That part of the ship's hull which is abaft the midships or dead-flat, as seen from astern.
The Sailor's Word-Book|William Henry Smyth
There was the necessary lavatory accommodation, abaft the firemen's quarters at the sides of the ship.
Loss of the Steamship 'Titanic'|British Government

Abaft the mizzen-mast were the two cabins respectively occupied by Captain Coxon and Mr. Duckling.
The Wreck of the Grosvenor, Volume 1 of 3|William Clark Russell

British Dictionary definitions for abaft

abaft

/ (əˈbɑːft) nautical /

adverb, adjective (postpositive)

closer to the stern than to another place on a vesselwith the wind abaft

preposition

behind; aft ofabaft the mast

Word Origin for abaft

C13: on baft; baft from Old English beæftan, from be by + æftan behind

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

abaft

preposition

adverb

Words related to abaft

Words nearby abaft

Origin of abaft

Examples from the Web for abaft

British Dictionary definitions for abaft

adverb, adjective (postpositive)

preposition

Word Origin for abaft