avast
5
9.9
A command used by sailors on ships to tell others to stop
- interjection
- /əˈvæst/
- Archaic
:
¡alto!
- Hearing the command 'avast!', the crew immediately stopped what they were doing.
Examples
-
The captain yelled 'avast!' as the sailors rushed to lower the sails.
-
In old pirate movies, you often hear someone shout 'avast!' to get everyone's attention.
-
Captain, avast your orders!
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The crew shouted, avast!
-
The captain yelled 'avast!' as the sailors rushed to lower the sails.
-
Hearing the command 'avast!', the crew immediately stopped what they were doing.
-
In old pirate movies, you often hear someone shout 'avast!' to get everyone's attention.
Antonyms
Surface Forms
avast main
Etymology
The word avast comes from old sailors' language and probably from Dutch houd vast meaning 'hold fast' or 'hold on'. So when sailors shouted avast they were telling people to stop or hold what they were doing, which is why it means 'stop' today.