midships

9.1

In the middle part of a ship where the ship moves less

adverb
/ˈmɪdʃɪps/

Specialized

: en medio del barco

To avoid rougher motion, passengers were advised to stay midships during the storm.

Examples

The cargo was loaded midships to maintain balance during the voyage.
The captain stood midships to give orders.
The crew gathered midships for the safety drill.
We need to move midships for better stability.
The crew gathered midships for the safety drill.
To avoid rougher motion, passengers were advised to stay midships during the storm.
The cargo was loaded midships to maintain balance during the voyage.

Synonyms

amidship

vsmidships

Specialized

1 9.8

In the middle of a ship or aircraft

applies only to vessels rather than to aircraft

amidships

vsmidships

Specialized

8.2

Near the middle of a ship

is the same meaning expressed as a different form

midship

vsmidships

Specialized

6.2

Toward the middle part of a ship between the front and back

is used for being near the center rather than strictly between ends

midmost

vsmidships

8.8

At the exact middle of a place or thing

refers to being near a vessel's middle rather than exactly central

How Forward

forward

176 1.0

midships

Specialized

9.1

aft

Specialized

51 7.0

Surface Forms

midships positive

Morphology

midships = mid + ship (semi-transparent) = mid + ship

The meaning is largely recoverable from 'mid' + 'ship', but the fixed nautical adverbial use is somewhat specialized.

Etymology

The word midships comes from the prefix mid- ('middle') and ship, so it literally means 'in the middle of the ship'. That's why sailors say midships to mean 'near the center of a boat', a place where the movement is usually less and it is easier to keep balance.