aback

1. adv. Toward the back or rear; backward. Source: opted

2. adv. Behind; in the rear. Source: opted

3. adv. Backward against the mast; -- said of the sails when pressed by the wind. Source: opted

4. n. An abacus. Source: opted

5. adv. having the wind against the forward side of the sails Source: wordnet

6. adv. by surprise Source: wordnet

7. 1. Toward the back or rear; backward. "Therewith aback she started." Chaucer. 2. Behind; in the rear. Knolles. 3. (Naut.) Backward against the mast;-said of the sails when pressed by the wind. Totten. To be taken aback. (a) To be driven backward against the mast; -- said of the sails, also of the ship when the sails are thus driven. (b) To be suddenly checked, baffled, or discomfited. Dickens. An abacus. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Source: webster

8. Backward against the mast;-said of the sails when pressed bythe wind. Totten. To be taken aback. (a) To be driven backwardagainst the mast; -- said of the sails, also of the ship when thesails are thus driven. (b) To be suddenly checked, baffled, ordiscomfited. Dickens. Source: adambom

9. r:100 r. having the wind against the forward side of the sails r. by surprise Source: ecdict

Thesaurus links