Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]
Fine Dictionary

Avast

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
  1. Avast
    ȧ*vȧst" (Naut) Cease; stop; stay. "Avast heaving."
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
  1. avast
    Nautical, stop! hold! cease! stay!
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
  1. (interj) Avast
    a-väst′ (naut.) hold fast! stop!
Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary Corrupted from D. houd vast, hold fast. See Hold (v. t.), and Fast (a.)

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary Dut. houd vast, hold fast.

Usage in the news

NORTH OGDEN — Eye patches, bandannas and unusually large hats — accompanied by words like " Ahoy " and "Avast" — are not common for second-graders at North Ogden Elementary School. standard.net

ID Watchdog And AVAST Software Launch Ground-Breaking Integrated Identity Protection Suite. networkcomputing.com

Stevenson's 'Treasure Island': Still Avast Delight. ashingtonpost.com

Avast Ye Knee-Jerk Reactions, Matey . pbs.org

Avast Ye Knee-Jerk Reactions, Matey. pbs.org

Avast ye mateys, there's no need to board any ships brandishing swords, but if you dust off your pirate lingo and clothes, Krispy Kreme will reward you with some sweet treats. phillyburbs.com

Avast UK High Court orders The Pirate Bay blocked. rt.com

Pirate Exchange Avast, give me 10,000 shares of Pirate Inc. popsci.com

Usage in literature

I don't believe a REAL sailor ever in his life said 'belay there,' or 'avast. "Blix" by Frank Norris

Avast, there, all hands! "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas, Pere

You, young man, avast there! "Moby Dick; or The Whale" by Herman Melville

Avast with such nonsense! "The Innocents Abroad" by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

Avast there, ye lubbers! "The Tides of Barnegat" by F. Hopkinson Smith

Avast with such nonsense! "The Innocents Abroad, Part 1 of 6" by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

In a few minutes the second mate came up, hallooing to us to "avast," and laughing. "Ned Myers" by James Fenimore Cooper

The walnut and the Oriental plane grew to avast size in many places. "The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 5. (of 7): Persia" by George Rawlinson

So now avast jawing, and obey orders! "Little Classics, Volume 8 (of 18)" by Various

It wasn't 'Avast'; it were 'Belay there! "The Little Skipper" by George Manville Fenn

Usage in poetry
"Avast there, Dan!" the Capting cried,
"What have you gone to do?"
"Don`t bother me, man," said Carpenter Dan,
"I`m fixing things for you."
"Industrious Carpenter Dan" by Wallace Irwin
We stud in the bight that starry night
A-tacking agin the gale
When the Capting shouts, "She spins, she spouts !
Yo-ho and avast, the whale !"
"What Ho! She Blows!" by Wallace Irwin
(Of course, you know that the yell "Yo-ho!"
Should mean, "Slack stidder and cast!"
And you understand the simple command
When the Capting hollers, "Avast!")
"What Ho! She Blows!" by Wallace Irwin