yaw

¹

[ yaw ]

verb (used without object)

1. to deviate temporarily from a straight course, as a ship.
2. (of an aircraft) to have a motion about its vertical axis.
3. (of a rocket or guided missile) to deviate from a stable flight attitude by oscillation of the longitudinal axis in the horizontal plane.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to yaw.

noun

1. a movement of deviation from a direct course, as of a ship.
2. a motion of an aircraft about its vertical axis.
3. an angle, to the right or left, determined by the direction of motion of an aircraft or spacecraft and its vertical and longitudinal plane of symmetry.
4. (of a rocket or guided missile)
   1. the act of yawing.
   2. the angular displacement of the longitudinal axis due to yawing.

yaw

²

[ yaw ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. one of the lesions of yaws.

yaw

/ jɔː /

verb

1. intr (of an aircraft, missile, etc) to turn about its vertical axis Compare pitch 1 roll
2. intr (of a ship, etc) to deviate temporarily from a straight course
3. tr to cause (an aircraft, ship, etc) to yaw

noun

1. the angular movement of an aircraft, missile, etc, about its vertical axis
2. the deviation of a vessel from a straight course

Word History and Origins

Origin of yaw¹

First recorded in 1540–50; origin uncertain

Origin of yaw²

First recorded in 1735–45; back formation from yaws

Word History and Origins

Origin of yaw¹

C16: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

"The investigation found that, in the prevailing circumstances, the loss of yaw control was irrecoverable," it said in its final report on the crash.

From Reuters

Lighter bullets travel faster and can tumble through bodies more easily, causing maximum damage as they yaw through flesh.

From Washington Post

Jackson is particularly proud of the clavicle, which can move forward and back as well as pitch, roll, and yaw.

From The Verge

Eradicating yaws—a painful and disfiguring bacterial disease—may be harder than scientists hoped, a study published last week in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests.

From Science Magazine

WHO first set up a campaign to wipe yaws off the face of Earth in the 1950s.

From Science Magazine