yaw1

[yaw] /yɔ/
verb (used without object)
1.
to deviate temporarily from a straight course, as a ship.
2.
(of an aircraft) to have a motion about its vertical axis.
3.
(of a rocket or guided missile) to deviate from a stable flight attitude by oscillation of the longitudinal axis in the horizontal plane.
verb (used with object)
4.
to cause to yaw.
noun
5.
a movement of deviation from a direct course, as of a ship.
6.
a motion of an aircraft about its vertical axis.
7.
an angle, to the right or left, determined by the direction of motion of an aircraft or spacecraft and its vertical and longitudinal plane of symmetry.
8.
  1. the act of yawing.
  2. the angular displacement of the longitudinal axis due to yawing.
Origin
1540-50; origin uncertain

yaw2

[yaw] /yɔ/
noun, Pathology
1.
one of the lesions of yaws.
Origin
1735-45; back formation from yaws
Examples from the web for yaw
  • This blackbird was seemingly not quite straight and had a yaw at supersonic speeds.
British Dictionary definitions for yaw

yaw

/jɔː/
verb
1.
(intransitive) (of an aircraft, missile, etc) to turn about its vertical axis Compare pitch1 (sense 11), roll (sense 14)
2.
(intransitive) (of a ship, etc) to deviate temporarily from a straight course
3.
(transitive) to cause (an aircraft, ship, etc) to yaw
noun
4.
the angular movement of an aircraft, missile, etc, about its vertical axis
5.
the deviation of a vessel from a straight course
Word Origin
C16: of unknown origin
Word Origin and History for yaw
v.

"to fall away from the line of a course," 1540s, from Old Norse jaga, Old Danish jæge "to drive, chase," from Middle Low German jagen (see yacht).