avast

intj
/əˈvɑːst/UK/əˈvæst/US

Etymology

Probably borrowed from Dutch hou vast, houd vast (“hold fast!”), from houd (imperative of houden, “to hold”) + vast (“fast, firm, tight”). Doublet of hold fast.

  1. borrowed from hou vast

Definitions

  1. Hold fast!

    Hold fast!; cease!; stop!

    • Then pull avvay, hoa up, hoa up, hoa up, ſo avaſt there, Sir.
    • Avaſt, brother, avaſt! ſheer off—Yo ho! you turnkey, vvhy don't you keep a better look out? here's one of your crazy priſoners broke from his laſhings, I do ſuppoſe.
    • [T]he sail went into the water, and he could not drag it in. "Avast heaving," said Gascoigne, "till I throw her up and take the wind out of it."
  2. In imitation of pirates

    In imitation of pirates: listen!; pay attention!

    • Avast, ye landlubbers!

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for avast. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA