Astern: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ข
astern
[ ษหstษrn ]
nautical term
The term 'astern' refers to the position of something located behind a ship or boat. It is commonly used in maritime navigation to describe the direction or location relative to the stern of the vessel. When something is said to be astern, it means it is located towards the rear of the ship. Understanding this term is crucial for safe sailing and maneuvering in tight spaces.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The lighthouse is directly astern of our vessel.
- We need to steer the ship astern to avoid the reef.
- The anchor was dropped astern during the docking process.
Translations
Translations of the word "astern" in other languages:
๐ต๐น austral
๐ฎ๐ณ เคชเฅเคฐเฅเคตเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช รถstlich
๐ฎ๐ฉ timur
๐บ๐ฆ ัั ัะดะฝะธะน
๐ต๐ฑ wschodni
๐ฏ๐ต ๆฑใฎ
๐ซ๐ท est
๐ช๐ธ este
๐น๐ท doฤu
๐ฐ๐ท ๋์ชฝ์
๐ธ๐ฆ ุดุฑูู
๐จ๐ฟ vรฝchodnรญ
๐ธ๐ฐ vรฝchodnรฝ
๐จ๐ณ ไธๆน็
๐ธ๐ฎ vzhodni
๐ฎ๐ธ austur
๐ฐ๐ฟ ััาัั
๐ฌ๐ช แแฆแแแกแแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ ลษrq
๐ฒ๐ฝ este
Etymology
The word 'astern' comes from Old English 'a-stern', where 'a-' functioned as a prefix meaning 'on' or 'in the direction of', and 'stern' derived from the Old Norse word 'svartr', meaning 'the rear part of a ship'. This term has been used in maritime contexts for centuries, reflecting the importance of directional language in seafaring. The specific use of 'astern' to indicate a position behind a ship emerged prominently in nautical usage as ships became a critical part of trade and exploration. Histories of naval terminology show that precise communication aboard vessels was essential for navigation safety, leading to the standardized use of such terms. This has helped in the evolution of marine language, making 'astern' an enduring and vital part of nautical vocabulary.