astern

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Behind (a vessel)

   Behind (a vessel); in the rear.

   • After we had row'd, or rather driven about a League and a Half, as we reckon'd it, a raging Wave, Mountain-like, came rowling a-stern of us, and plainly bad us expect the Coup-de-Grace.
2. 2

   In the direction of the stern

   In the direction of the stern; backward (motion); to the rear.

3. 3

   At or toward the rear of a vessel.

4. ›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer

   1. 4

      Behind a vessel

      Behind a vessel; having a bearing of 180 degrees from ahead.

      • If one ship is following another, the first is astern of the second.
      • When we first espied the Dutch fleet sailing towards us, our whole blue squadron was astern much farther from us, so that Prince Rupert thought it absolutely necessary to slacken sail that they might have time to join us.
      • Every yachtsman knows that if the ballast of a ship be too afore or too astern.

The neighborhood

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