abaft

American  

[uh-baft, uh-bahft] / əˈbæft, əˈbɑft /

preposition

1. to the rear of; aft of.

   the fife rail abaft the mainmast.

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adverb

1. in the direction of the stern; astern; aft.

abaft British  

/ əˈbɑːft /

adverb

1. closer to the stern than to another place on a vessel

   with the wind abaft

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preposition

1. behind; aft of

   abaft the mast

Etymology

Origin of abaft

1225–75; Middle English on baft, abaft, equivalent to a- ¹ and on on + baft, Old English bæftan contraction of be + æftan. See by aft ¹

Explanation

Ahoy! Abaft is a word used on boats. If something is abaft, it’s towards the rear, or stern, of a boat. Abaft means "in the back." Though rarely heard on dry land, this old seafaring word refers to the rear end of a ship. Abaft can also refer to the back end of an airplane. Even if you’re not a sailor (or pilot), if you read Moby Dick or other stories of the sea, then you’ll need to know what abaft means. Think of the word after when you see that aft on the end.

Example Sentences

In Valchem crew's quarters, just five or six feet abaft the deep cut, an oiler awoke into a nightmare.

From Time Magazine Archive

Unshakable, unanimous belief of all hands was that a torpedo struck her just abaft amidships on the port side.

From Time Magazine Archive

Down along 650 feet of deck raced 1,300 warrant officers, petty officers, sailors, Royal Marines to jam themselves on the tiny stern deck abaft the anti-aircraft guns.

From Time Magazine Archive

The galley abaft the owner�s suite includes private crew stairs to their cabin and mess area forward as well as to the raised pilothouse.

From Time Magazine Archive

He made his way just abaft of the cabin, then stood squinting up at the Susan Marie’s guys and stays and at the peaks of her stabilizer bars.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson