aft

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The boats in which this class of the population live have an awning of bamboo and matting fore and aft, which is removed by day and raised at night.

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Definitions (13)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. adverb At, in, toward, or close to the stern of a vessel or the rear of an aircraft or spacecraft.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (9)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (2)

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Examples (50)

  • But 'ave no fear, sir, there's only two of 'em left, and I'll bloomin' well soon"--he reaches for an oar and went bouncing aft--"bloomin' well soon knock them hoff, too, sir THE UNQUENCHABLE DESTROYER BOYS One day last summer a group of our destroyers were sent across the Atlantic. —  The U-boat hunters
  • He is forward and wants to go aft--he hooks onto the loop, waits for her bow to rise, lets himself go and there he is--back to her skid deck That sounds like rough work. —  The U-boat hunters
  • Then Mr. Hansen dropped him Lay aft, here, a couple o' hands," thundered the captain from the break of the poop, and two awe-struck men obeyed him. —  "Where Angels Fear to Tread" and Other Stories of the Sea
  • Lay aft, there, some o' ye, and call the captain," blustered the mate, with his hands held high Not a man stirred to obey. —  "Where Angels Fear to Tread" and Other Stories of the Sea
  • A blow was felt which made her shake fore and aft, and the water, which had hitherto not even rippled against her side, now broke over her in a shower of spray. —  In the Wilds of Africa
 

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English afte, back, from Old English æftan, behind; see apo- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Middle English *aft, *afte, *aften, from Anglo-Saxon æftan, behind, in the rear. from Gothic (Moesogothic) aftana, from behind, from afta, behind, back; forms developed from the comparative, Anglo-Saxon æfter = Gothic (Moesogothic) aftra: see after, and cf. Icelandic aptr (pronounced and formerly spelled aftr), back, backward, aft.
 

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/æft/
by American Heritage
by peggy tharpe

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