abaft

• POS: Preposition, Adverb
• HYPHEN: a=baft

CIDE DICTIONARY

abaft, prep. [Pref. a- on + OE. baft, baften, biaften, AS. beæftan; be by + æftan behind. See After, Aft, By.].

 Behind; toward the stern from; as, abaft the wheelhouse.  [1913 Webster]

Abaft the beam. See under Beam.

abaft, adv. 

 Toward the stern; aft; as, to go abaft.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

abaft, adv. & prep. Naut.
--adv. in the stern half of a ship.
--prep. nearer the stern than; aft of.

Etymology

A(2) + -baft f. OE be{aelig}ftan f. be BY + {aelig}ftan behind

ROGET THESAURUS

abaft

Rear

N rear, back, posteriority, rear rank, rear guard, background, hinterland, occiput, nape, chine, heels, tail, rump, croup, buttock, posteriors, backside scut, breech, dorsum, loin, dorsal region, lumbar region, hind quarters, aitchbone, natch, natch bone, stern, poop, afterpart, heelpiece, crupper, wake, train, reverse, other side of the shield, back, rear, hind, hinder, hindmost, hindermost, postern, posterior, dorsal, after, caudal, lumbar, mizzen, tergal, behind, in the rear, in the background, behind one's back, at the heels of, at the tail of, at the back of, back to back, after, aft, abaft, astern, sternmost, aback, rearward, ogni medaglia ha il suo rovescio, the other side of the coin.