sternway


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stern·way

 (stûrn′wā′)
n. Nautical
Backward movement or the rate of backward movement of a vessel.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

sternway

(ˈstɜːnˌweɪ)
n
(Nautical Terms) nautical movement of a vessel sternforemost
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

stern•way

(ˈstɜrnˌweɪ)

n.
the movement of a vessel backward, or stern foremost.
[1760–70]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Translations

sternway

n (Naut) → Heckfahrt f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in classic literature ?
"Do you feel strong enough to prevent the rud- der taking charge if she gets sternway on her?
West Derby off Egremont was painted by Thomas Dove (1811 - 1886) and shows the sailing ship making sternway - drifting slowly backwards so that the anchor takes hold in the riverbed.