athwartships

[ uh-thwawrt-ships ]

adverbNautical.

from one side of a ship to the other.

Origin of athwartships

First recorded in 1710–20; athwart + ship¹ + -s¹

Words Nearby athwartships

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use athwartships in a sentence

Instantly the clamps descend from the end of the spar and clutch the privateer athwartships.
The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers. Series 1 | Robert H. Newell
A torrent poured down the athwartships alleyway, and nearly swept me from my feet.
The Sea and the Jungle | H. M. Tomlinson
A puff of wind caught the sail and sent the boom athwartships, like a mighty flail.
The Black Bag | Louis Joseph Vance
At all times except when whales were alongside, this bench was securely lashed athwartships against the rear of the Try-works.
Moby Dick; or The Whale | Herman Melville
Then lash his hands athwartships behind his back, and take him and the Greek ashore.
Edward Barry | Louis Becke

British Dictionary definitions for athwartships

athwartships

/ (əˈθwɔːtˌʃɪps) /

adverb

nautical from one side to the other of a vessel at right angles to the keel

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

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