yaw

Yaw is defined as when a ship, plane or other moving vessel swings, sways or moves back and forth across its path.

(verb)

An example of yaw is an airplane swaying back and forth in a storm.

The definition of a yaw is the motion of a vessel going back and forth along its path.

(noun)

An example of yaw is the motion a plane would be taking if it were swinging back and forth across its flight path.

See yaw in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

to swing back and forth across its course, as a ship pushed by high waves
to swing to the left or right on the vertical axis so that the longitudinal axis forms an angle with the line of flight; esp., to rotate or oscillate about the vertical axis: said of a projectile, aircraft, spacecraft, etc.

Origin: ON jaga, to sway, move back and forth < or akin to Du & Ger jagen, to hunt

transitive verb

to cause to yaw

noun

See yaw in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb yawed, yaw·ing, yaws

verb, intransitive

Nautical To swerve off course momentarily or temporarily: The ship yawed as the heavy wave struck abeam.
To turn about the vertical axis. Used of an aircraft, spacecraft, or projectile.
To move unsteadily; weave.

verb, transitive

To cause to yaw.

noun