Word Study
abaft
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Adverbial abaft has 1 sense
- abaft(r = adv.all) aft, astern - at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane; "stow the luggage aft"; "ships with square sails sail fairly efficiently with the wind abaft"; "the captain looked astern to see what the fuss was about"
CIDE DICTIONARY
abaft, prep. [Pref. a- on + OE. baft, baften, biaften, AS. beæftan; be by + æftan behind. See After, Aft, By.].
Behind; toward the stern from; as, abaft the wheelhouse. [1913 Webster]
abaft, adv.
Toward the stern; aft; as, to go abaft. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
abaft, adv. & prep. Naut.
--adv. in the stern half of a ship.
--prep. nearer the stern than; aft of.
--adv. in the stern half of a ship.
--prep. nearer the stern than; aft of.
Etymology
A(2) + -baft f. OE be{aelig}ftan f. be BY + {aelig}ftan behind
ROGET THESAURUS
abaft
Rear
N rear, back, posteriority, rear rank, rear guard, background, hinterland, occiput, nape, chine, heels, tail, rump, croup, buttock, posteriors, backside scut, breech, dorsum, loin, dorsal region, lumbar region, hind quarters, aitchbone, natch, natch bone, stern, poop, afterpart, heelpiece, crupper, wake, train, reverse, other side of the shield, back, rear, hind, hinder, hindmost, hindermost, postern, posterior, dorsal, after, caudal, lumbar, mizzen, tergal, behind, in the rear, in the background, behind one's back, at the heels of, at the tail of, at the back of, back to back, after, aft, abaft, astern, sternmost, aback, rearward, ogni medaglia ha il suo rovescio, the other side of the coin.
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