of position: literally, back, behind, in the rear. From an early period, it seems to have been confined to a ship (in reference to which its immediate source baft is also found in the 14th c.); the bows are the foremost, and the stern the aftermost part, hence abaft means ‘In the after part or stern half of the ship.’
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FR: en arrière [T60988]; à l'arrière [T60988] DE: hinter [T60988] FI: peräpuolellä [T60988]
In ships of 100 metres in length and upwards, one of the main transverse bulkheads abaft the forepeak shall be fitted at a distance from the forward perpendicular which is not greater than the permissible length.
