aloft
- high up; far above the ground.
- Nautical.
- on the masts; in the rigging; overhead.
- (on a square-rigged sailing ship) in the upper rigging, specifically, on or above the lower yards (opposed to alow).
- in or into the air.
- on or at the top of: flags flying aloft the castle.
Origin of aloft
Examples from the Web for aloft
Contemporary Examples of aloft
There was a sense of standing together on the precipice, but holding each other aloft by sheer will, conjoined by rage.
Historical Examples of aloft
A good look-out was kept for men, from aloft, but none were seen from any of the vessels.
Ned MyersJames Fenimore Cooper
Saying no word, out of his lair he came with that terrible sword of his aloft.
Fair MargaretH. Rider Haggard
The celebrant kissed the tablet, and held it aloft before all the people.
English VillagesP. H. Ditchfield
No living thing would that loathly one leave as aloft it flew.
BeowulfAnonymous
But from aloft Chris saw the trick and how the camouflage was worked.
Raiders InvisibleDesmond Winter Hall
aloft
- in or into a high or higher place; up above
- nautical in or into the rigging of a vessel
Word Origin for aloft
Word Origin and History for aloft
c.1200, from a Scandinavian source; cf. Old Norse a lopti "up above," literally "up in the air," from a "in, on" + lopt "sky, air, atmosphere; loft, upper room" (cf. Gothic luftus, Old High German luft, Old English lyft "air;" see loft).