full ahead
Top speed forward
Full ahead is a nautical command directing maximum forward engine power: The captain ordered full ahead.
The phrase comes from ship telegraph settings that communicate engine orders from bridge to engine room.
Outside maritime contexts, it appears in full speed ahead or full steam ahead, meaning to proceed with maximum effort or commitment.
- steamHeated water's gaseous form
- throttlePower flow controller
- enginesMachines converting fuel to motion
- top speedMaximum achievable velocity
- captainOne who commands
bridge · nautical · propeller · surge · forward · maximum · speed · helm · ship's wheel · all hands · on deck · vessel · ship · power · command · cruise · voyage · open sea
- seamanshipseamanship, steering, anchoring, navigation, chartwork
- nautical termsahoy, afloat, aye aye, aye-aye, becalmed
- pilotagepilots, harbor pilots, pilot boat, marine pilots, river pilots