avast
/əˈvɑːst
/exclamation Nautical
Stop; cease: a sailor is expected to keep hauling until the mate hollers ‘Avast!’...
- Time to splice yer mainbrace, stow yer bilge, avast yer scurvy dog.
- Avast there ye scalliwags!
Origin
Early 17th century: from Dutch hou'vast, houd vast 'hold fast!'.
This nautical term is from Dutch hou'vast, houd vast ‘hold fast!’.
Rhymes
- Singh
- Singhalese
- singing hinny
- singingly
- singing saw
- sing in (or out) the new (or old) year
- sing-jay
- sing-jaying
- single
- single acrostic
- single-acting
- single-action
- single blessedness
- single-blind
- single bond
- single-breasted
- single carriageway
- single-cell protein
- single combat
- single-copy
- single cream
- single currency
- single-cut
- single-decker
- single digging