The transverse direction; anything extending or across the line of a ship's course.
♦ Athwart hawse, a vessel, boat, or floating lumber accidentally drifted across the stem of a ship, the transverse position of the drift being understood.
♦ Athwart the fore-foot, just before the stem; ships fire a shot in this direction to arrest a stranger, and make her bring-to.
♦ Athwart ships, in the direction of the beam; from side to side: in opposition to fore-and-aft.