Etymology

abeam

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Today it means: On the beam; at a right angle to the centerline or keel of a vessel or aircraft; being at a bearing approximately 90° or 270° relative. Full definition →

First used Mid 19th century.English beam ← Middle English bem ← Old English bēam
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abeam · adverb, adjective, preposition1

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂en-
  2. Proto-Germanic*an
  3. Proto-West Germanic*ana
  4. Old Englishon
  5. Middle Englishan
  6. Middle Englisha-
  7. Englisha-
  8. Proto-Germanic*bagmaz?
  9. Proto-West Germanic*baum
  10. Old Englishbēam
  11. Middle Englishbem
  12. Englishbeam
  13. English todayabeam

From a- (“in the direction of”) + beam (“keel”).

abeam · adjective2

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂en-
  2. Proto-Germanic*an
  3. Proto-West Germanic*ana
  4. Old Englishon
  5. Middle Englishan
  6. Middle Englisha-
  7. Englisha-
  8. Proto-Germanic*bagmaz?
  9. Proto-West Germanic*baum
  10. Old Englishbēam
  11. Middle Englishbem
  12. Englishbeam
  13. English todayabeam

From a- + beam (“to emit beams of light”).

First known use, by meaning

  • Mid 19th century. On the beam; at a right angle to the centerline or keel of a vessel or aircraft; being at a bearing approximately 90° or 270° relative.
  • Mid 19th century. Alongside or abreast; opposite the center of the side of the ship or aircraft.
  • Mid 19ᵗʰ century. Alongside or abreast; opposite the center of the side of the ship or aircraft.
  • Mid 19ᵗʰ century. Alongside.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.