vbl. sb. [f. YAW v.1 + -ING1.] The action of the verb YAW; temporary deviation of a vessel from her course; unsteady movement from side to side; also fig.
1586. J. Melvill, Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 253. Be hir tumbling and yeawing, the mast schouk sa louse, that Mr. Robert … haid mikle ado to fasten the sam.
1627. Capt. J. Smith, Sea Gram., ix. 38. He that keepes the Ship most from yawing doth commonly vse the lest motion with the Helme.
1793. Nelson, 22 Oct., in Nicolas, Disp. (1815), I. 335. The Chase … by yawing, which her superiority in sailing enabled her to do, gave us many broadsides.
1858. R. S. Surtees, Ask Mamma, lii. There is a great yawing of mouths and … renewed inquiries for fords.
1870. Lowell, Among My Books, Ser. I. (1873), 293. The language has such a fatal genius for going stern-foremost, for yawing.
So Yawing ppl. a., that yaws (lit. and fig.).
1835. Whately, in Life (1866), I. 292. Another [evil] will be a sort of unsteady yawing course of the state-ship.
1850. ‘H. Hieover,’ Pract. Horsemanship, v. 92. A more yawing, pully-hauly brute I had scarcely ever ridden.
