fore-and-aft

[fawr-uhnd-aft, -ahft, fohr-]

adjective

1. located along or parallel to a line from the stem to the stern.

adverb

1. fore.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fore and aft¹

First recorded in 1610–20

Idioms and Phrases

Both front and back, everywhere, as in The children clung to the teacher fore and aft. This expression is nautical terminology for the bow, or front, and the stern, or back, of a vessel. Today it is also used more broadly. [First half of 1600s]

Example Sentences

The little ship, like most traders of the Inmost Sea, bore the high fore-and-aft sail that can be turned to catch a headwind, and her master was a handy seaman, proud of his skill.

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A cargo bike with sturdy fore-and-aft racks held cardboard boxes marked “Corey office” and “2 glass lanterns,” as well as a small bookcase.

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The third stage vibrated quite a bit, not from side to side but with a choppy fore-and-aft motion which was felt as almost a buzz.

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It opened into a saloon 20 feet by 7 feet, which in turn communicated with a fore-and-aft alley-way extending almost the extreme length of the fuselage.

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Since then opportunities for fore-and-aft sailing had been few and far between.

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