AVAST

Etymology

Interjection

avast

(nautical) hold fast!; desist!; stay!.

(slang, in imitation of pirates) listen!; pay attention!

Usage notes

• “Avast hauling!” (meaning, “stop hauling”) is (or was, in 1950) still commonly used in U.S. Navy deck operations.

• The slang use in imitation of pirate talk is based on a misconstruction of the meaning. If uttered by a historical sailor, the meaning of the sentence “Avast, ye landlubbers” would have been, “Desist, you novice seamen”.

Synonyms

• (hold fast): See Thesaurus:avast

• (pay attention): See Thesaurus:heads up

Anagrams

• Vasta, tavas

Source: Wiktionary


A*vast", interj. Etym: [Corrupted from D. houd vast hold fast. See Hold, v. t., and Fast, a.] (Naut.)

Definition: Cease; stop; stay. "Avast heaving." Totten.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




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