sternway

American

[sturn-way] / 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.

See Examples For:

sternway

Mr. Denny said, “Craziest thing I’ve ever seen, sir. Hardly enough wind to make sternway, and the waves are pounding us to pieces.”

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

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

From With Beatty off Jutland A Romance of the Great Sea Fight by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman

The mass of iron fell half in-board upon the now stayed boat, and gave her sternway, with a splintered plank.

From For the Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke

The Myra was still making sternway and showed no decided tendency to bring up.

From Rounding up the Raider A Naval Story of the Great War by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman

But the pause between the checking of the Chih’ Yuen’s sternway and her gathering speed ahead would have been fatal had it not been for Drake.

From A Chinese Command A Story of Adventure in Eastern Seas by Archibald Webb

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