yaw - definition, synonyms and pronunciation

Open English WordNet

Noun (1)yaws

an erratic deflection from an intended courseSynonyms: swerveType of turning, turn

Verb (3)yaws, yawed, yawing

be wide open“the deep gaping canyon”Synonyms: gape yawnMore general open
deviate erratically from a set course“the yawing motion of the ship”More general deviate, divertMore specific hunt
swerve off course momentarily“the ship yawed when the huge waves hit it”More general swerve, sheer

Word of the day · Oct 17About this word

ephemeranoun

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Yaw (ya̤), intransitive verb [past tense & past participle Yawed (ya̤d); present participle & verbal noun Yawing.]

Origin: Cf. Yew, intransitive verb

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

Yaw intransitive & transitive verb

Origin: 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.

Nautical 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.— James Russell Lowell

Yaw noun

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

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54