abaft

[ uh-baft, uh-bahft ]

preposition

1. to the rear of; aft of:

   the fife rail abaft the mainmast.

adverb

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

abaft

/ əˈbɑːft /

adverb

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

   with the wind abaft

preposition

1. behind; aft of

   abaft the mast

Word History and Origins

Origin of abaft¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of abaft¹

C13: on baft; baft from Old English beæftan, from be by + æftan behind

Example Sentences

With a fair wind abaft the beam, the ship could have logged a hundred and fifty miles in a day’s sailing.

From Literature

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 Literature

In the midst of the mêlée a hostile light cruiser, tearing at 27 knots, rammed the Velocity, cutting her completely in twain just abaft the after engine-room bulkhead.

From Project Gutenberg

At the forward end it contained 34 staterooms and abaft these a number of public rooms, etc., for first-class passengers, including two first-class entrances and stairway, reading room, lounge, and the smoke room.

From Project Gutenberg

They have three funnels; one almost amidships, another aft; whereas the third, which is considerably more slender than the others, is situated abaft the mainmast, immediately in rear of the bridge.

From Project Gutenberg