athwartships

[ uh-thwawrt-ships ]

adverb

, Nautical.

1. from one side of a ship to the other.

athwartships

/ əˈθwɔːtˌʃɪps /

adverb

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of athwartships¹

First recorded in 1710–20; athwart + ship ¹ + -s ¹

Example Sentences

It was a compartment 20 feet by 6 feet 6 inches, with a bunk at each end running athwartships, and as plainly furnished as the owner's quarters.

From Project Gutenberg

The larger state-rooms had the bunks lying athwartships and the floor space between the bunks was 20 inches wide.

From Project Gutenberg

Ankle deep in water, I made my way forward, till in the dim light I perceived a stout bulkhead running athwartships and pierced by a little sliding door, or hatch.

From Project Gutenberg

Hatches are spaced at multiples of 12 ft. throughout the length and are made as wide as possible athwartships to facilitate loading and unloading.

From Project Gutenberg

I might have had a semicircle or hollow in the sides of the caravan, in which high wheels could have moved without entailing a broader beam, but this would have curtailed the floor space in the after-cabin, on which my valet has to sleep athwartships, and this arrangement was therefore out of the question.

From Project Gutenberg