avast

American

[uh-vast, uh-vahst] / əˈvæst, əˈvɑst /

verb

Nautical.

(used as a command to stop or cease).

Avast heaving!

avast British

/ əˈvɑːst /

nautical stop! cease!

"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

Etymology

Origin of avast

1675–85; perhaps < Dutch houd vast hold fast ( see hold ¹, fast ¹)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Look, to be honest with you, I am an avast carnivore, but I really adhere to the Southeast Asian model of meat eating.

From Salon • Jul. 3, 2021

He answered questions so unhesitatingly, in such swift accents, that the shorthand reporters had to ask him to avast and go more slowly.

From Time Magazine Archive

When the Plate Monsieur Fourbin had, was going to the Chest, the Men unanimously cried out avast, keep that out for the Captain's Use, as a Present from his Officers and Fore-mast Men.

From Of Captain Mission by Defoe, Daniel

Bing, to go, bing avast; get you gone.

From The Surprising Adventures of Bampfylde Moore Carew King of the Beggars; containing his Life, a Dictionary of the Cant Language, and many Entertaining Particulars of that Extraordinary Man by Unknown

But not longer than you have loved me,” she added roguishly, as George took her in his arms and— But, avast there! whither are we running?

From The Voyage of the Aurora by Collingwood, Harry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023