Offing: meaning, definitions and examples
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offing
[ ˈɔfɪŋ ]
nautical term
The term 'offing' refers to the distant part of the sea or ocean visible from the shore. It is often used in maritime and naval contexts to describe an area that is beyond the immediate sight of land. In sailing, 'offing' can indicate where ships may anchor or where navigable waters lie. This term is particularly relevant when discussing weather observations, navigational hazards, or potential landfall points for vessels.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The sails dipped below the horizon as the ship disappeared into the offing.
- Fishermen often watch the offing for signs of incoming storms.
- The offing was dotted with the silhouettes of distant cargo ships.
Translations
Translations of the word "offing" in other languages:
🇵🇹 mar aberto
- horizonte
- longe
🇮🇳 सागर का खुला क्षेत्र
🇩🇪 Offenmeer
- Horizont
- Ferne
🇮🇩 laut terbuka
- cakrawala
- jauh
🇺🇦 відкритий океан
- горизонт
- далеч
🇵🇱 otwarte morze
- horyzont
- dal
🇯🇵 外海
- 地平線
- 遠く
🇫🇷 mer ouverte
- horizon
- éloignement
🇪🇸 mar abierto
- horizonte
- lejanía
🇹🇷 açık deniz
- ufuk
- uzaklık
🇰🇷 열린 바다
- 수평선
- 멀리
🇸🇦 البحر المفتوح
- الأفق
- بعيد
🇨🇿 otevřené moře
- horizont
- dálka
🇸🇰 otvorené more
- horizont
- diaľka
🇨🇳 开阔海域
- 地平线
- 远方
🇸🇮 odprto morje
- obzor
- daljina
🇮🇸 opið haf
- sjóndeildarhringur
- fjarlægð
🇰🇿 ашық теңіз
- горизонт
- алыста
🇬🇪 ღია ზღვა
- ჰორიზონი
- შორი
🇦🇿 açıq dəniz
- ühüq
- uzaq
🇲🇽 mar abierto
- horizonte
- lejanía
Etymology
The word 'offing' is derived from the Old English 'ofing', meaning 'off' or 'away from'. Its origins can be traced back to nautical terminology, as sailors needed to describe distances and locations relative to the shore and the sea. The usage of 'offing' has remained relatively stable since its introduction, being primarily employed in maritime discussions. The evolution of shipping and navigation further solidified the importance of this word in the English lexicon, as it captured the need for precise descriptions of distant waters where ships might operate safely or encounter various conditions. The term encapsulates not just a physical space, but also a sense of anticipation for sailors who navigate the often unpredictable expanses of ocean.