The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Sheer \Sheer\, n.
   1. (Naut.)
      (a) The longitudinal upward curvature of the deck,
          gunwale, and lines of a vessel, as when viewed from
          the side.
      (b) The position of a vessel riding at single anchor and
          swinging clear of it.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. A turn or change in a course.
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            Give the canoe a sheer and get nearer to the shore.
                                                  --Cooper.
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   3. pl. Shears See Shear.
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   Sheer batten (Shipbuilding), a long strip of wood to guide
      the carpenters in following the sheer plan.

   Sheer boom, a boom slanting across a stream to direct
      floating logs to one side.

   Sheer hulk. See Shear hulk, under Hulk.

   Sheer plan, or Sheer draught (Shipbuilding), a projection
      of the lines of a vessel on a vertical longitudinal plane
      passing through the middle line of the vessel.

   Sheer pole (Naut.), an iron rod lashed to the shrouds just
      above the dead-eyes and parallel to the ratlines.

   Sheer strake (Shipbuilding), the strake under the gunwale
      on the top side. --Totten.

   To break sheer (Naut.), to deviate from sheer, and risk
      fouling the anchor.
      [1913 Webster]