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usually uncountable, plural afts
(nautical) The stern portion of a vessel. examples
comparative further aft or more aft, superlative furthest aft or most aft
(nautical) At, near, or towards the stern of a vessel (with the frame of reference within the vessel). quotations examples
I came safe on board, but I felt anything but easy about the boat and the boy; my thoughts were not where they should be, for every moment I had to give the boat and the boy a look, and at last I saw a sea strike the boat aft, which gave it a send forward and under, and the next moment he was gone.
1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 183
located at the back of a boat, ship, or airplane examples
plural afts
(dated slang) Alternative form of afternoon: the time of day from noon until early evening. quotations
A gents' toilet room might be found in a house that caters for the cheaper class of theatrical patronage, where the slangy language of the "goin' to the mat this aft?" style prevails. A gents toilet room is not found in the Southern Hotel. It either "men's" or "gentlemen's".
1898, The Hotel/Motor Hotel Monthly, volume 6, page 27
There's gonna be an announcement later this aft, but he's targeting vulnerable people like yourselves, alright?
2016, Sally Wainwright, 49:45 from the start, in Happy Valley, season 2, episode 1, spoken by Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire)