abaft

American  

[uh-baft, uh-bahft] / əˈbæft, əˈbɑft /

preposition

1. to the rear of; aft of.

   the fife rail abaft the mainmast.

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adverb

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

abaft British  

/ əˈbɑːft /

adverb

1. closer to the stern than to another place on a vessel

   with the wind abaft

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preposition

1. behind; aft of

   abaft the mast

Etymology

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 by aft ¹

Explanation

Ahoy! Abaft is a word used on boats. If something is abaft, it’s towards the rear, or stern, of a boat. Abaft means "in the back." Though rarely heard on dry land, this old seafaring word refers to the rear end of a ship. Abaft can also refer to the back end of an airplane. Even if you’re not a sailor (or pilot), if you read Moby Dick or other stories of the sea, then you’ll need to know what abaft means. Think of the word after when you see that aft on the end.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

abaft

The mainsheet is under the deck, with a two-part adjustment just abaft the helm, and all the winch-control buttons are recessed flush with removable chafe pads.

From Time Magazine Archive

On deck you'll find seating ahead of the console, and room enough for a fighting chair abaft the helm seats.

From Time Magazine Archive

Down along 650 feet of deck raced 1,300 warrant officers, petty officers, sailors, Royal Marines to jam themselves on the tiny stern deck abaft the anti-aircraft guns.

From Time Magazine Archive

Tenders are carried in side garages on the upper deck abaft the pilothouse, and the top deck includes a glass-enclosed sky gym.

From Time Magazine Archive

With a fair wind abaft the beam, the ship could have logged a hundred and fifty miles in a day’s sailing.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham