Definify.com
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.
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)
- (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
backwards
|
Adjective
astern (not comparable)
- (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
behind (adj)