Link Centre Dictionary

yaw

UK/jɔː/ US/jɑː/ rare
noun (1) verb (3)

noun

1.

an erratic deflection from an intended course

Synonyms

verb

1.

be wide open

  • “the deep gaping canyon”
Synonyms
2.

deviate erratically from a set course

  • “the yawing motion of the ship”
3.

swerve off course momentarily

  • “the ship yawed when the huge waves hit it”

Origin

Unknown, first attested in the mid-16th century. Perhaps related to yar (“quick, agile”), or alternatively from Old Norse jaga (“to chase, drive, move back and forth”), from Middle Low German jagen (“to hunt, chase, pursue”), from Old Saxon *jagōn, from Proto-West Germanic *jagōn, from Proto-Germanic *jakkōną (“to hunt”).

Phrases

  • adverse yaw
  • yaw damper

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.