Astern

Origin

- + stern

Full definition of astern

Adverb

1. (nautical) Beyond the stern when viewed from aboard.
   He signalled the engineroom to go astern: in other words, to run the engine in such a way as to put the ship beyond the present position of her stern, as viewed from aboard.
• 1944, Miles Burton, The Three Corpse Trick Chapter 5, The dinghy was trailing astern at the end of its painter, and Merrion looked at it as he passed. He saw that it was a battered-looking affair of the prahm type, with a blunt snout, and like the parent ship, had recently been painted a vivid green.

Derived terms

• astern of

Antonyms

• ahead

Adjective

1. (nautical) behind
• If one ship is following another, the first is astern when viewed from the second.

Usage notes

Within the ship, the corresponding adjective is abaft. An object nearer the stern than the mainmast is abaft the mainmast.

Anagrams

• santer
• sterna