yaw Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an erratic deflection from an intended course
    swerve.
  2. verb be wide open
    yawn; gape.
    • the deep gaping canyon
  3. verb deviate erratically from a set course
    • the yawing motion of the ship
  4. verb swerve off course momentarily
    • the ship yawed when the huge waves hit it

WordNet

Yaw intransitive verb
Etymology
Cf. Yew, v. i.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Yawed ; present participle & verbal noun Yawing
Definitions
  1. To rise in blisters, breaking in white froth, as cane juice in the clarifiers in sugar works.
Yaw intransitive verb & transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. Prov. G. gagen to rock, gageln to totter, shake, Norw. gaga to bend backward, Icel. gagr bent back, gaga to throw the neck back.
Definitions
  1. (Naut.) To steer wild, or out of the line of her course; to deviate from her course, as when struck by a heavy sea; -- said of a ship.
    Just as he would lay the ship's course, all yawing being out of the question. Lowell.
Yaw noun
Definitions
  1. (Naut.) A movement of a vessel by which she temporarily alters her course; a deviation from a straight course in steering.

Webster 1913