astern
adjEtymology From a- (“towards”) + stern (“rear part of a vessel”).
- If one ship is following another, the first is astern of the second.
- When we first espied the Dutch fleet sailing towards us, our whole blue squadron was astern much farther from us, so that Prince Rupert thought it absolutely necessary to slacken sail that they might have time to join us.1838, M. Guizot, edited by J. Stuart Wortley, Memoirs of George Monk, Duke of Albemarle, London: Richard Bentley, page 307:
4 more examples
- Every yachtsman knows that if the ballast of a ship be too afore or too astern.1872, Hunt's Yachting Magazine, volume 21, page 288:
- The chief engineer's evidence of the S.S. Lennox was the best given; but, as will be seen, he asserted that from the orders he received the Lennox's course was more astern than ahead.1883, Lieutenant J. Menteith Brebner, RETURN WRECKS AND CASUALTIES IN INDIAN WATERS, page 140:
- but when near Cape Palmas the wind will perhaps be more astern1883, Alexander George Findlay, A Sailing Directory for the Ethiopic Or South Atlantic Ocean:
- The galley fire was lighted; coffee was boiled; the sun shone brightly, and the ship astern was coming up fast.1901, W. Clark Russell, The Ship's Adventure, Westminster: Archibald Constable, page 304: