What does aweather mean?
Aweather is a nautical adverb denoting movement or position toward the windward side of a vessel — the side facing directly into the wind. It is formed from the prefix 'a-' (meaning 'on' or 'in the direction of') combined with 'weather,' which in seafaring language refers to the windward, or exposed, side of a ship. Sailors traditionally contrasted aweather with alee, its opposite, which indicates the leeward or sheltered side. The term appears most often in historical maritime writing, traditional sailing commands, and descriptions of tall-ship handling, such as ordering the helm put aweather to bring a vessel's head into the wind. Though rarely heard outside specialized or literary contexts today, it survives as part of the rich vocabulary of seamanship, offering a precise, evocative way to describe a ship's relationship to wind and sea.
adverbAweather is a nautical term meaning toward or on the side from which the wind blows; to windward. It describes the position of a ship, helm, or object relative to the weather side.
- (Nautical) Toward or on the windward side of a ship; in the direction from which the wind blows.
"The helmsman eased the tiller aweather to keep the bow pointed into the squall."
"The captain ordered the helm put aweather as the storm bore down from the northeast."
"Standing aweather of the mast, the sailor could feel the full force of the gale."
In sailing, every direction is either 'aweather' — into the teeth of the wind — or 'alee,' and knowing which side you're on can be the difference between trimming sails and capsizing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of aweather
Aweather derives from the prefix 'a-,' an unstressed form of Old English 'on' meaning 'on' or 'in the direction of,' joined to 'weather,' used here in its nautical sense of the windward side. This construction parallels other nautical formations such as 'alee.' The compound arose in English maritime vocabulary, likely by the early modern period, as sailing terminology developed alongside the growth of seafaring trade and naval practice. It shares its root with related directional terms like 'weatherward' and 'windward.'
How aweather is actually used
Aweather is an archaic-to-technical nautical term. It appears mainly in maritime literature, historical accounts, and traditional seamanship contexts rather than everyday modern speech. It pairs with its antonym 'alee' in classic sailing commands.
Easily confused with aweather
Aweather means toward the windward (weather) side of a vessel, while alee means toward the opposite, sheltered leeward side.