What does yawling mean?
Yawling is the present participle of yawl, a verb meaning to turn or veer away from a straight course. It is especially associated with ships, whose hulls may swing sideways when they lose steerage or are pushed by wind and current, although the movement can also be described for aircraft and other rotating objects. In a phrase such as “the ship began yawling,” the word identifies an active and often unstable movement rather than a deliberate turn under control. The related verb yaw is more usual in technical discussion, while yawling naturally emphasizes the visible movement or its continuation. As an -ing form, yawling can function as a gerund, as in “the crew worked to stop the yawling,” or as a participle before a noun, as in “a yawling vessel.” The word is uncommon in general conversation but precise and vivid in nautical descriptions and accounts of vehicles moving unexpectedly. Its usefulness lies in naming a turn about a vertical axis more specifically than a general word such as turning.
verbTo yaw; to turn or swing sideways from a direct course, especially as a ship moves.
- To yaw; to turn or swing sideways from a direct course, especially as a ship moves.
"The fishing trawler began yawling as the wind pushed its bow off course."
"The trawler began yawling badly as the wind struck it broadside."
"The pilot corrected the aircraft's yawling motion with the rudder."
When a ship swings across its course instead of advancing straight ahead, that distinctive movement is called yawling.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of yawling
Yawling is formed by adding -ing to the verb yawl. In its turning sense, yawl is closely related to the older English verb yaw, whose history is generally traced through Middle English to Old Norse. The shared sense is a turning or deviation from an intended course, a meaning that became particularly familiar in nautical usage. This verb should not be confused with the similarly spelled noun for a small sailing vessel, which has a separate history.
Related word forms
How yawling is actually used
Chiefly a nautical term, though it can also describe the corresponding movement of aircraft or other objects. As an -ing form, it often suggests an ongoing or uncontrolled movement.
Easily confused with yawling
Yawling describes a rotational or sideways movement, whereas yowling means crying out with a prolonged howl.
Yawing is the standard -ing form of the related verb yaw, while yawling comes from yawl and is especially associated with a ship moving across its course.