breast, to

The Sailor's Word-Book

To run abeam of a cape or object. To cut through a sea, the surface of which is poetically termed breast.


♦ To breast the sea, to meet it by the bow on a wind.

♦ To breast the surf, to brave it, and overcome it swimming.

♦ To breast a bar, to heave at the capstan.

♦ To breast to, the act of giving a sheer to a boat.

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