Athwart

[Prefix a and thwart, q. v.]

1. Across; from side to side of. “Athwart the thicket low.” Tennyson.
2. (Naut.) Across the line of a ship’s course; as, a fleet standing athwart our course.

Athwart hawse, across the stem of another vessel, whether in contact or at a small distance.—Athwart ships, reaching across the ship from side to side, or in that direction.—Athwart the fore foot, a phrase applied to the flight of a cannon-ball, fired by one ship across another ship’s course, ahead, as a signal for her to bring to. Mar. Dict.