'AFT, adjective or adverb In seaman's language, a word used to denote the stern or what pertains to the stern of a ship; as, the aft part of the ship; haul aft the main sheet, that is, further towards the stern. Fore and aft is the whole length of a ship. Right aft is in a direct line with the stern.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI