abeam

[uh-beem]

adverb

Nautical, Aeronautics. at right angles to the fore-and-aft line: The vessel was sailing with the wind directly abeam.

directly abreast the middle of a ship's side.

Origin of abeam

First recorded in 1830–40; a-¹ + beam

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for abeam

Historical Examples of abeam

For if ahead, he would have stopped; if abeam, stood for it.
Christopher Columbus and His Monument Columbia
Various
The schooner flying the Mexican flag remained hove to abeam.
Romance
Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer
Just as the 'Texas' got abeam of her she was shaken by a mighty explosion.
The Naval History of the United States
Willis J. Abbot.
The 'Oregon' was abeam of the 'Colon' then, and the gallant Don gave it up.
The Naval History of the United States
Willis J. Abbot.
Soon we had it off our bow, abeam, on our quarter; we were inshore.
The U-boat hunters
James B. Connolly

British Dictionary definitions for abeam

abeam

adverb, adjective

(postpositive) at right angles to the length and directly opposite the centre of a vessel or aircraft

Word Origin for abeam

C19: a- ² + beam

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

Word Origin and History for abeam

adv.

"at right angles to the keel," c.1836, nautical, literally "on beam;" see a- (1) + beam (n.).