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

Example Sentences

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

From Literature

He made his way just abaft of the cabin, then stood squinting up at the Susan Marie’s guys and stays and at the peaks of her stabilizer bars.

From Literature

In the midst of the mêlée a hostile light cruiser, tearing at 27 knots, rammed the Velocity, cutting her completely in twain just abaft the after engine-room bulkhead.

From Project Gutenberg

Before and abaft the machinery space there was a water-tight division at the center line only, except in the foremost and aftermost tanks.

From Project Gutenberg

They have three funnels; one almost amidships, another aft; whereas the third, which is considerably more slender than the others, is situated abaft the mainmast, immediately in rear of the bridge.

From Project Gutenberg