The Major Operations of the Navies in the War of American Independence

Aback.		A sail is aback when the wind blows on the forward part tending to move the vessel astern.
Abaft.		Behind, towards the stern.
Abeam. Abreast.	}	See "Bearing."
Aft.		See "Bearing."
Ahead.		See "Bearing."
Astern.		See "Bearing."
Beam.		The width of a vessel, so used because of the cross timbers, called beams.
Bear, to.		To be in a specified direction from a vessel.
Bear, to.		To change the direction of a vessel's movement. To bear down, to move towards; to bear up, or away, to move away, from the wind or from an enemy.
Bearing.		The direction of an object from a vessel; either by compass, or with reference to the vessel itself. Thus, the lighthouse bears north; the enemy bears abeam, or two points off the port bow.
Bearing,		Line of. The compass bearing on which the vessels of a fleet are ranged, whatever their bearings from one another.
Bearings,		with reference to the vessel. Abeam. Abreast. } Perpendicular to the vessel's length. Aft. Astern. } Directly behind. Ahead.   Directly before; forward. Abaft the beam, starboard or port, weather or lee. To the rear of abeam, to the right or left, to windward or to leeward.