YAW

yaw, swerve

(noun) an erratic deflection from an intended course

yaw

(verb) swerve off course momentarily; “the ship yawed when the huge waves hit it”

yaw

(verb) deviate erratically from a set course; “the yawing motion of the ship”

gape, yawn, yaw

(verb) be wide open; “the deep gaping canyon”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

yaw (plural yaws)

The rotation of an aircraft, ship, or missile about its vertical axis so as to cause the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, ship, or missile to deviate from the flight line or heading in its horizontal plane.

The angle between the longitudinal axis of a projectile at any moment and the tangent to the trajectory in the corresponding point of flight of the projectile.

(nautical) A vessel's motion rotating about the vertical axis, so the bow yaws from side to side; a characteristic of unsteadiness.

The extent of yawing, the rotation angle about the vertical axis

Verb

yaw (third-person singular simple present yaws, present participle yawing, simple past and past participle yawed)

(intransitive, aviation) To turn about the vertical axis while maintaining course.

(intransitive, nautical) To swerve off course to port or starboard.

(intransitive, nautical) To steer badly, zigzagging back and forth across the intended course of a boat; to go out of the line of course.

(intransitive) To rise in blisters, breaking in white froth, as cane juice in the clarifiers in sugar works.

Etymology 2

Noun

yaw (plural yaws)

A single tumor in the disease called yaws.

Anagrams

• 'way, -way, Way, way, wya

Proper noun

Yaw (plural Yaws)

A surname.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Yaw is the 18766th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 1461 individuals. Yaw is most common among White (78.23%) individuals.

Anagrams

• 'way, -way, Way, way, wya

Source: Wiktionary


Yaw, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Yawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Yawing.] Etym: [Cf. Yew, v. i.]

Definition: To rise in blisters, breaking in white froth, as cane juice in the clarifiers in sugar works.

Yaw, v. i. & t. Etym: [Cf. Prov. G. gagen to rock, gageln to totter, shake, Norw. gaga to bend backward, Icel. gagr bent back, gaga to throw the neck back.] (Naut.)

Definition: To steer wild, or out of the line of her course; to deviate from her course, as when struck by a heavy sea; -- said of a ship. Just as he would lay the ship's course, all yawing being out of the question. Lowell.

Yaw, n. (Naut.)

Definition: A movement of a vessel by which she temporarily alters her course; a deviation from a straight course in steering.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

23 March 2025

INDWELLING

(adjective) existing or residing as an inner activating spirit or force or principle; “an indwelling divinity”; “an indwelling goodness”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest coffee shop is the Al Masaa Café, which has 1,050 seats. The coffee shop was inaugurated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 13 August 2014.

coffee icon