sheerness

Variant of sheer

sheer definition

sheer (s̸hir)

intransitive verb

to turn aside sharply from a course; swerve

Etymology: var. of shear, prob. infl. by Du or LowG scheren, to cut, deviate, warp away

transitive verb

to cause to sheer

noun

  1. a sudden change of course; abrupt turn; swerve
  2. the oblique heading or position of a ship riding at a single bow anchor
  3. the upward curve of a ship's deck toward the bow and stern, as seen from the side

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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