/əˈvɑːst/, /-ˈvæst/, /əˈvæst/
OriginProbably borrowed from Dutch hou vast, houd vast (“hold fast!”), from houd (imperative of houden, “to hold”) + vast (“fast, firm, tight”, adverb). Doublet of hold fast.
- Hold fast!; cease!; stop!
“Then pull avvay, hoa up, hoa up, hoa up, ſo avaſt there, Sir.”
“Avaſt, brother, avaſt! ſheer off—Yo ho! you turnkey, vvhy don't you keep a better look out? here's one of your crazy priſoners broke from his laſhings, I do ſuppoſe.”
“[T]he sail went into the water, and he could not drag it in. "Avast heaving," said Gascoigne, "till I throw her up and take the wind out of it."”
- slangIn imitation of pirates: listen!; pay attention!
“Avast, ye landlubbers!”
“[“Pirate Talk: How to Make It Work for You”, page 35] Avast—"Stop and give attention." It can be used in a sense of surprise: "Whoa! Get a load of that!" when a beautiful woman walks into the room. "A”