The Collaborative International Dictionary
Astern \A*stern"\, adv. [Pref. a- + stern.] (Naut.)
In or at the hinder part of a ship; toward the hinder part, or stern; backward; as, to go astern.
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Behind a ship; in the rear. ``A gale of wind right astern.''
--De Foe. ``Left this strait astern.''
--Drake.To bake astern, to go stern foremost.
To be astern of the reckoning, to be behind the position given by the reckoning.
To drop astern, to fall or be left behind.
To go astern, to go backward, as from the action of currents or winds.
Usage examples of "to go astern".
The quartermaster had kept the wheel over from the sudden turn with the result that as soon as the brig started to go astern the rudder began to get a bite on the water and push her stern round.
Mowett heaved the log, waited for the red tag to go astern and called 'Turn.
Even now, if the man at the wheel suddenly decided to go astern I'd be sucked into the vortex of one or other of the screws and end up like something -that had passed through a turnip-cutting machine.
Even now, if the man at the wheel suddenly decided to go astern I'd be sucked into the vortex of one or other of the screws and end up like something that had passed through a turnip-cutting machine.