fore and aft adverbial & adjectival phr. [fɔ:r (ǝ)nd 'ɑ:ft] As adjective usu. fore-and-aft. E17.
[Perh. translating phr. of Low German origin: cf. Dutch van voren en van achteren.]
Chiefly Nautical.
A. adverb.
1. From stem to stern, lengthwise. E17.

2. Of position: in or at both bow and stern, all over the ship. E17.

3. Of motion or direction: backwards and forwards. E18.
b. adjective. Placed or directed lengthwise. E19.
Comb. & special collocations: fore-and-aft cap a cap with a peak at each end; fore-and-aft rigged adjectival phr. (of a vessel) having sails set lengthwise as opp. to on yards; opp. square-rigged s.v. SQUARE adjective.

■ fore-and-after noun (a) a vessel, esp. a schooner, which is fore-and-aft rigged; (b) a fore-and-aft cap: E19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲