sternway

American

[sturn-wey] / ˈstɜrnˌweɪ /

noun

Nautical. the movement of a vessel backward, or stern foremost.

sternway British

/ ˈstɜːnˌweɪ /

noun

nautical movement of a vessel sternforemost

"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 sternway

First recorded in 1760–70; stern ² + way 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.

It now remained to be seen whether she would gather sternway before her sharp stem crashed into the other destroyer amidships.

From Project Gutenberg

With a sickening jerk, as if the little craft were parting amidships, the patrol-boat stopped and gathered sternway.

From Project Gutenberg

Then taking sternway she backed on her enemy, and the rigging and an anchor becoming entangled, she could not get off.

From Project Gutenberg

The ship was now gathering sternway, drifting rapidly to lee'ard the while.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, pushing off, they resumed their oars, pulling desperately for the ship, which was now gathering sternway at a distance of a cable's length.

From Project Gutenberg

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