abeam

English[edit]

a- (“in the direction of”) +‎ beam (“keel”)

abeam (comparative more abeam, superlative most abeam)

(nautical, aircraft) On the beam; at a right angle to the centerline or keel of a vessel ^[1] or aircraft; being at a bearing approximately 090 Degrees or 270 Degrees relative^[2]. [Mid 19^th century.]^[3]
(nautical, aircraft) Alongside or abreast; opposite the center of the side of the ship or aircraft. [Mid 19^th century.]^[3]

on the beam

alongside

abeam (comparative more abeam, superlative most abeam)

(nautical, aircraft) Alongside or abreast; opposite the center of the side of the ship or aircraft. [Mid 19^th century.]^[3]
- 2005, William Thomas Generous, Sweet Pea at War: A History of USS Portland‎^[1], →ISBN, page 178:
  The attack on the abeam ship, Louisville, killed Commander Cruiser Division Four […]
The island was directly abeam of us.

abeam

(nautical) Alongside. [Mid 19^th century.]^[3]
She came abeam the crippled ship.

^ FM 55-501 Marine Crewman’s Handbook
^ JP 1-02 Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 “abeam”, in Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief; William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford; New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 2002, →ISBN, page 3.

abeam