avast
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From the Dutch hou vast (“hold fast”).
Pronunciation[edit]
- (General American, Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈvæst/
- Rhymes: -æst
Interjection[edit]
avast
- (nautical) hold fast!; desist!; stay!.
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1914, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Mucker[1], HTML edition, The Gutenberg Project, published 2009:
- "Avast there!" cried the captain, and as though to punctuate his remark he swung the heavy stick he usually carried full upon the back of Billy's head.
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- (parody of pirate slang) listen!; pay attention!.
- Avast, ye landlubbers!
Usage notes[edit]
- The form "avast, ye!" (as in "Avast, Hoisting!" or "Avast, this noise" or "Avast ye landlubbers!!") is often seen, but this is nonstandard.
- "Avast hauling!" is (or was, in 1950) still commonly used in U.S. Navy deck operations.
