heaving astern

The Sailor's Word-Book

Causing a ship to recede or go backwards, by heaving on a cable or other rope fastened to some fixed point behind her. This more immediately applies to drawing a vessel off a shoal.

Related Words

  • Astern

    ·adv Behind a ship; in the rear. II. Astern ·adv In or at the hinder part of a ship; toward the hin...

    Webster's Dictionary of the English Language

  • astern

    Any distance behind a vessel; in the after-part of the ship; in the direction of the stern, and ther...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • Heaving

    ·p.pr. & ·vb.n. of <<Heave>>. II. Heaving ·noun A lifting or rising; a swell; a panting or deep sig...

    Webster's Dictionary of the English Language

  • avast heaving!

    The cry to arrest the capstan when nippers are jammed, or any other impediment occurs in heaving in ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • heaving ahead

    Is the act of advancing or drawing a ship forwards by heaving on a cable or rope made fast to some f...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • heaving down

    (See careening.) The bringing one of a ship's sides down into the water, by means of purchases on th...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • heaving in

    Shortening in the cable. Also, the binding a block and hook by a seizing. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • heaving out

    The act of loosing or unfurling a sail; particularly applied to the staysails; or in the tops, footi...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • heaving taut

    The act of turning the capstan, &c., till the rope applied thereto becomes straight and ready for ac...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • drop astern, to

    To slacken a ship's way, so as to suffer another one to pass beyond her. Also, distancing a competit...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • fall astern, to

    To lessen a ship's way so as to allow another to get ahead of her. To be driven backwards. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • heaving and setting

    Riding hard, pitching and sending. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • heaving a strain

    Working at the windlass or capstan with more than usual exertion. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • heaving in stays

    The act of tacking, when, the wind being ahead, great pressure is thrown upon the stays. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • heaving keel out

    The utmost effect to be produced by careening, viz. to raise the keel out of the water in order to r...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • heaving through all

    The surging or slipping of the cable when the nippers do not hold. ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book