1. Word finder
  2. Word definitions
  3. to fetch headway

Find the word definition

What is "to fetch headway"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To fetch headway

Fetch \Fetch\ (f[e^]ch; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fetched 2; p. pr. & vb. n.. Fetching.] [OE. fecchen, AS. feccan, perh. the same word as fetian; or cf. facian to wish to get, OFries. faka to prepare. [root]77. Cf. Fet, v. t.]

  1. To bear toward the person speaking, or the person or thing from whose point of view the action is contemplated; to go and bring; to get.

    Time will run back and fetch the age of gold.
    --Milton.

    He called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
    --1 Kings xvii. 11, 1

  2. 2. To obtain as price or equivalent; to sell for.

    Our native horses were held in small esteem, and fetched low prices.
    --Macaulay.

  3. To recall from a swoon; to revive; -- sometimes with to; as, to fetch a man to.

    Fetching men again when they swoon.
    --Bacon.

  4. To reduce; to throw.

    The sudden trip in wrestling that fetches a man to the ground.
    --South.

  5. To bring to accomplishment; to achieve; to make; to perform, with certain objects; as, to fetch a compass; to fetch a leap; to fetch a sigh.

    I'll fetch a turn about the garden.
    --Shak.

    He fetches his blow quick and sure.
    --South.

  6. To bring or get within reach by going; to reach; to arrive at; to attain; to reach by sailing.

    Meantine flew our ships, and straight we fetched The siren's isle.
    --Chapman.

  7. To cause to come; to bring to a particular state. They could n't fetch the butter in the churn. --W. Barnes. To fetch a compass (Naut.), to make a circuit; to take a circuitous route going to a place. To fetch a pump, to make it draw water by pouring water into the top and working the handle. To fetch headway or To fetch sternway (Naut.), to move ahead or astern. To fetch out, to develop. ``The skill of the polisher fetches out the colors [of marble]'' --Addison. To fetch up.

    1. To overtake. [Obs.] ``Says [the hare], I can fetch up the tortoise when I please.''
      --L'Estrange.

    2. To stop suddenly.