astern
Toward the rudder
Astern is a nautical term meaning toward or at the rear of a ship—the opposite of fore or ahead.
A vessel moving full speed astern is going backward.
Something astern of a ship lies behind it: We left the harbor astern.
The word appears almost exclusively in maritime contexts.
Vessel's rear area
- wakePath left in water
- propellerRotating blades creating thrust
- rudderPivoting stern blade
- helmVessel's steering mechanism
ship · vessel · bow · portside · starboard · engine room · anchor · keel
Vessel's rear area
back · sternward · reverse · retreat · recede · withdraw · backing · sternway
aft
Vessel's rear area
helm · ship · vessel · bow · portside · starboard · engine room · anchor · keel · galley
aft
Vessel's rear area
behind · back · sternward · reverse · retreat · recede · withdraw · backing · sternway
reverse
Turn to opposite
half · engines · all stop · dead slow · power · throttle · bell · order
bearing
Posture or orientation
- coursePlanned path forward
- waypointNavigation reference location
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
radar · piloting · mariner · logbook · sextant · voyage · transit · heading · clearance · maneuvering
- nauticalanchor, anchor chain, anchors, boat, boats
- nautical termsahoy, afloat, aye aye, aye-aye, becalmed
- ship speedsknots, full speed, half speed, dead slow, flank speed