EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR ABAFT
The sound came from abaft his beam and his disquietude increased.
I had them all ready, and went to my desk in my room, just abaft the pilot-house, for them.
Up with your helm, abaft there, and let her go off square before the wind!
"I'm on the port side just abaft the pantry," I answered, shaking him by the hand.
Mr Culpepper was abaft, walking by himself, when Bob went up and accosted him.
Luxury starts from abaft, and is not wholly lost, even at the fore-peak.
The fore and main tops are sent up from abaft, and the mizzen from forward.
If it is just abaft the windlass, it will be convenient in case you wish to slip your cable.
There was a capstan just abaft the mainmast, and here the men assembled.
At that time we did not know how far we might be abaft the Cape 9of Good Hope.
WORD ORIGIN
"in or at the back part of a ship" (opposed to forward), 1590s, from Middle English on baft (Old English on bæftan) "backwards." The second component is itself a compound of be "by" (see by) and æftan "aft" (see aft). The word has been saved by the sailors (the stern being the "after" part of a vessel), the rest of the language having left it in Middle English.