adverb / preposition

abaft

uh-BAFT/əˈbæft/

Toward a ship's stern or farther toward it than something else aboard.

The orange life ring rests on the deck abaft the mast.

An elevated three-quarter view of a small sailboat with a bright orange life ring resting on the aft deck abaft the mast.

Etymology

aOld Englishon, at

+bOld Englishby, near

+aftOld Englishbehind, farthest back

The elements combine into an expression meaning “at or toward the back.” Sailors preserved this formerly general rearward expression for positions toward a vessel’s stern, the “after” part of the ship.

In context

FlyingKah1:15

we need to tip the balance so the wind is pushing further forward of the balance point. To do this, we have to take away the sails abaft of the mainmast in preparation for the wear.

Tall ship James Craig Wear ship

More examples

The captain looks abaft toward the stern.
A storage locker sits abaft the cabin.
The crew moves the equipment farther abaft.

Similar words

aft: Means toward the stern without usually introducing a comparison.
behind: Describes a relative position without specifying a ship's stern.