in Navigation, is synonymous with across the line of the course.

ATHWART the Fore-foot, is a phrase that denotes the flight of a cannon ball from one ship across the course of another, to intercept the latter, and oblige her to shorten sail, that the former may come near enough to examine her.

ATHWART-House, expresses the situation of a ship, when she is driven by wind or tide, or any other accident, across the fore part of another.

ATHWART-Ships, reaching across ships from one side to the other.