astern

adverb

1. 1

   (of a ship or an airplane) behind

   we dropped her astern on the end of a seven-inch manilla, and she laid comfortably on the ebb tide

2. 2

   at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane

   stow the luggage aft

   ships with square sails sail fairly efficiently with the wind abaft

3. 3

   stern foremost or backward

   the steamer went astern at half speed