fore and aft

Along the keel

Fore and aft means from front to back of a ship, or running lengthwise rather than across.

A fore-and-aft sail is set along the ship's length, as opposed to square sails hung perpendicular to the hull.

The phrase extends to anything arranged or moving from one end to the other: The captain walked fore and aft, inspecting the deck.

nautical

bow

Respectful forward inclination

astern · longitudinal · amidships · lengthwise · stem · keel · waterline · hull · deck · bulkhead

rigging

mainsail

Principal vessel canvas

  • jibTriangular sail forward
  • staysailTriangular cloth on rigging
  • schoonerMulti-masted sailing craft

ketch · yawl · sloop · boom · mast · gaff · spanker · mizzen · mainmast · foremast

Opposites
nautical directional orientation

fore and aftport and starboard

Ship's left and right

abeam · broadside · lateral · transverse · side to side

completeness of coverage

fore and aftpartially

To an incomplete extent

incompletely · here and there · piecemeal · selectively

sail rig type

fore and aftsquare-rigged

Sails perpendicular to hull

square rig · square sail · ship-rigged · full-rigged · yards

Family

fore, aft, before, afore, foremost, forefront, forehead, foreground, foresee

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Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G