aft

¹

[ aft, ahft ]

adverb

1. at, close to, or toward the stern or tail:

   Stow the luggage aft.

adjective

1. situated toward or at the stern or tail:

   The aft sail was luffing.

aft

²

[ aft, ahft ]

adverb

, Scot.

1. oft.

aft.

³

abbreviation for

1. afternoon.

A.F.T.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. American Federation of Teachers.

aft

/ ɑːft /

adverb

1. nautical towards or at the stern or rear

   the aft deck

   aft of the engines

Word History and Origins

Origin of aft¹

before 950; Middle English afte, Old English æftan from behind, equivalent to æf- opposite + -t- suffix of uncertain value + -an suffix marking motion from; cognate with Old Frisian efta, Old Saxon, Old High German aftan, Gothic aftana, Old Norse aptan, Greek opís ( s ) ō behind; not akin to Greek apó off

Word History and Origins

Origin of aft¹

C17: perhaps a shortened form of earlier abaft

Example Sentences

The fore and aft have beautiful decks carved into them, and windows from various rooms too: it looks like a floating Apple device.

From The Daily Beast

The New York State United Teachers, part of AFT, recently voted to pull its support for Common Core.

From The Daily Beast

Jones then went aft to a locker near the stern, whence he returned with a mallet and chisel, and went below.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he jumped aft mighty quick, grabbed the wheel as cool as anything you ever saw, and had her under headway in no time.

From Project Gutenberg

Daily ascending the companion-ladder to the main-deck aft, she gradually faded from cognisance forward.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, for a wind had arisen, the man ran aft to the wheel, and Henry Burns saw the strange yacht go sailing out of the harbour.

From Project Gutenberg

On the deck, forward and aft, are hatchways which give entrance to the bow and stern compartments respectively.

From Project Gutenberg