An act of yawing; a movement of deviation from the direct course, as from bad steering; angular motion or displacement about a yawing axis.

The action of yaw, v.1; temporary deviation of a vessel from her course; unsteady movement from side to side; also figurative and attributive.

The action or fact of changing course or direction. Of a ship. Also in figurative context.

An abrupt divergence or deviation of a vessel from the line of her course; a swerve.

sheer-off: an act of sheering off (see sheer, v.2 1).