Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
adverb
- Nautical, Aeronautics. at right angles to the fore-and-aft line: The vessel was sailing with the wind directly abeam.
- directly abreast the middle of a ship’s side.
adverb, adjective
- (postpositive) at right angles to the length and directly opposite the centre of a vessel or aircraft
“at right angles to the keel,” c.1836, nautical, literally “on beam;” see a- (1) + beam (n.).