sternward

[ sturn-werd ]

adverb

1. toward the stern; astern.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sternward¹

First recorded in 1825–35; stern ² + -ward

Example Sentences

Next, to begin the “recovery,” he rotated his shoulders forward and pushed his arms sternward against the oar while pulling his knees up toward his chest, thus propelling his body forward on the sliders back into the crouched position in which he had begun.

From Literature

Washington’s stroke oar, Dow Walling, one of his legs grotesquely inflamed by three enormous boils, slid forward on his seat, drove both legs sternward, and took the rate up above the furious forty at which the Washington boys were already rowing.

From Literature

YORKTOWN, Va. — Like an apparition, the 17-story ship glided through the cool morning mist, its towering skeleton of masts and two sternward flags — one French and one a 13-starred American — all that were visible from shore.

From Washington Post

She was about four thousand tons, and her engines were sternward and not amidship.

From Project Gutenberg

“I’m not looking for father,” responded the child, still keeping her eyes sternward.

From Project Gutenberg