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Webster 1913 Edition


Astern

A-stern′

,
adv.
[Pref.
a-
+
stern
.]
(Naut.)
1.
In or at the hinder part of a ship; toward the hinder part, or stern; backward;
as, to go
astern
.
2.
Behind a ship; in the rear.
“A gale of wind right astern.”
De Foe.
“Left this strait astern.”
Drake.
To bake astern
,
to go stern foremost.
To be astern of the reckoning
,
to be behind the position given by the reckoning.
To drop astern
,
to fall or be left behind.
To go astern
,
to go backward, as from the action of currents or winds.

Webster 1828 Edition


Astern

ASTERN'

,
adv.
[a or at, and stern. See stern.]
1.
In or at the hinder part of a ship; or towards the hinder part, or backwards; as, to go astern.
2.
Behind a ship, at any indefinite distance.

Definition 2024


astern

astern

See also: aștern

English

Adverb

astern (comparative more astern, superlative most astern)

  1. (nautical) Beyond the stern when viewed from aboard.
    He signalled the engineroom to go astern: in other words, to run the engine in such a way as to put the ship beyond the present position of her stern, as viewed from aboard.
    • 1944, Miles Burton, chapter 5, in The Three Corpse Trick:
      The dinghy was trailing astern at the end of its painter, and Merrion looked at it as he passed. He saw that it was a battered-looking affair of the prahm type, with a blunt snout, and like the parent ship, had recently been painted a vivid green.

Derived terms

Antonyms

Translations

Adjective

astern (not comparable)

  1. (nautical) behind
    • If one ship is following another, the first is astern when viewed from the second.

Usage notes

  • Within the ship, the corresponding adjective is abaft. An object nearer the stern than the mainmast is abaft the mainmast.

Translations

Anagrams