yawing
Rotating off course
Yawing is rotation around a vertical axis—the side-to-side swiveling of a vessel, aircraft, or vehicle.
A ship yaws when its bow swings left or right off course; an airplane yaws when its nose deviates from the flight path.
In driving, yawing describes the car's rotation during skids or sharp turns.
The term contrasts with pitching (nose up/down) and rolling (tilting side to side).
Abrupt directional change
- veerChange course suddenly
- turnRotational movement
- twistRotating motion or surprise
- zigzagAngled back-and-forth path
deflect · shift · skid · slide · lateral · sideways · fishtail · overcorrect
Pivoting stern blade
- aileronWing-mounted roll control
- pitchFrequency of sound
- rollList of names
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
cockpit · pilot · gyroscope · airspeed · tailfin · autopilot · turbulence · crosswind
Vessel's steering mechanism
- rudderPivoting stern blade
- tillerBoat steering lever
- steeringControlling direction of movement
- coursePlanned path forward
ship · vessel · starboard · portside · windward · leeward · keel · broaching
Moving unsteadily, wavering
- swayingRhythmic lateral movement
- rockingOscillating on curved base
- lurchingMoving unsteadily, abruptly
- oscillatingSwinging back and forth
fishtailing · snaking · weaving · unsteady · erratic · overcorrecting · wavering · unstable
swerve
Abrupt directional change
zigzag · deflect · shift · skid · slide · lateral · sideways · fishtail · overcorrect · rotate
rudder
Pivoting stern blade
aircraft · cockpit · pilot · gyroscope · airspeed · tailfin · autopilot · turbulence · crosswind · heading
helm
Vessel's steering mechanism
course · ship · vessel · starboard · portside · windward · leeward · keel · broaching · quartering
wobbling
Moving unsteadily, wavering
- swayingRhythmic lateral movement
- rockingOscillating on curved base
- lurchingMoving unsteadily, abruptly
oscillating · fishtailing · snaking · weaving · unsteady · erratic · overcorrecting · wavering · unstable · shaky