The Collaborative International Dictionary
Fore \Fore\, adv. [AS. fore, adv. & prep., another form of for. See For, and cf. Former, Foremost.]
In the part that precedes or goes first; -- opposed to aft, after, back, behind, etc.
-
Formerly; previously; afore. [Obs. or Colloq.]
The eyes, fore duteous, now converted are.
--Shak. -
(Naut.) In or towards the bows of a ship.
Fore and aft (Naut.), from stem to stern; lengthwise of the vessel; -- in distinction from athwart.
--R. H. Dana, Jr.Fore-and-aft rigged (Naut.), not rigged with square sails attached to yards, but with sails bent to gaffs or set on stays in the midship line of the vessel. See Schooner, Sloop, Cutter.
Wiktionary
adv. 1 (context nautical English) From the bow of a ship to the stern; lengthwise. 2 At both ends of a vessel. 3 Everywhere on a vessel. alt. 1 (context nautical English) From the bow of a ship to the stern; lengthwise. 2 At both ends of a vessel. 3 Everywhere on a vessel.
Usage examples of "fore and aft".
With only her fore and aft sails and her main course set, and her topgallant masts sent down, even an experienced seaman on this dark night would have to look twice or thrice to recognize what he saw.
Board 'em fore and aft, and I give you my sacred word the frigate's ours in five minutes.
Each mast had a long, thin yard slung fore and aft from it, hanging diagonally with the fore end down at deck level and curving gently from its own weight.
He led the way up the side-ladder, with two of his fellows fore and aft of me, and others ahead shouting to the people to stand clear.
Despite the advantage of her fore and aft rig it seemed to the acute eye that Princess lay a trifle farther off the wind than did the brig.
Some of the modules were clearly designed for linking fore and aft.
Rain pattered against the smooth planks of the deck and splashed off the tall carved horseheads fore and aft.