"in or at the back part of a ship" (opposed to forward), 1590s, from Middle English on baft (Old English on b?ftan) "backwards." The second component is itself a compound of be "by" (see by) and ?ftan "aft" (see aft). The word has been saved by the sailors (the stern being the "after" part of a vessel), the rest of the language having left it in Middle English.
雙語例句
1. Ships with square sails sail fairly efficiently with the wind abaft.
裝著橫帆的船只隨風(fēng)疾馳.
來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
2. Be careful the mule is a vicious beast, not safe abaft the beam.
當(dāng)心,騾子是一種險惡的畜牲, (站在)它后面不安全.
來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
3. The huge bull caught him abaft the wheel - house and slammed him in the air.