Abaft
/əˈbæft/noun
In or toward the rear part of a ship.
Did you know?In nautical terms, 'abaft' was often associated with the unseen dangers lurking behind a ship, tied to superstitions about spirits of the sea.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
abaft
“At or toward the rear of a ship.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
bakt
“Back, rear.”
Old English
Old English
baec
“Back.”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
bakhaz
“Back.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰegʰ-
“To break, to strike, related to the concept of the back or rear.”