sternforemost

American

[sturn-fawr-mohst, -fohr-, -muhst] / ˌstɜrnˈfɔr moʊst, -ˈfoʊr-, -məst /

adverb

Nautical. with the stern foremost.
awkwardly; with difficulty.

sternforemost British

/ ˈstɜːnˈfɔːməʊst /

adverb

nautical backwards

"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 sternforemost

First recorded in 1830–40; stern ² + foremost

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.

The canvas rattled furiously, the craft swayed upright and commenced to blow away sternforemost like a feather, while I dropped into the bottom of her, ankle deep in water.

From Project Gutenberg

As the water shoaled, the Man stroked powerfully, landing the canoe sternforemost; then he stepped forth, drew it along the bank, and said: "Camarada, give me your hand!"

From Project Gutenberg

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