avast
English
Etymology
From the (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Dutch hou vast (“hold tight”).
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GenAm" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /əˈvæst/
Audio (AU): (file) - Rhymes: -æst
Interjection
avast
- (nautical) hold fast!; desist!; stay!.
- 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.
- (parody of pirate slang) listen!; pay attention!.
- Avast, ye landlubbers!
Usage notes
- 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.
Synonyms
- (hold fast): See Thesaurus:avast
- (pay attention): See Thesaurus:heads up