I. ˈyȯ noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. : an angular displacement from a straight line or course : deviation: as
a. : a movement of a ship by which it temporarily swerves off course : sheer
b. : angular motion about the normal axis of an airplane
checking the plane's characteristics in roll, pitch and yaw — Boeing Magazine
c.
(1) : the angle formed by the longitudinal axis of a bullet or missile and the tangent to its trajectory
(2) : the wobble of a bullet or missile rotating in flight
2. : an erratic sideward motion : lurch
gave a beery yaw in the saddle — R.L.Stevenson
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to deviate erratically from a course
vessels yaw in following seas when … more or less out of steering control — W.P.Moore
suddenly the rocket ship yaws hard left — Arthur Murray
fighting the wheel as the jeep yawed from side to side — Frank Schreider
b. : to veer away from normal axis
for an instant the muzzle yawed up at the moon — Vincent McHugh
2. : to become deflected : swerve
his mind kept yawing drunkenly — Norman Mailer
transitive verb
: to cause to yaw
twisted us, and yawed us until the helmsman's life was a burden to him — Outing
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably alteration of yawn (I)
: gape , yawn
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: back-formation from yaws
: one of the lesions characteristic of yaws — see mother yaw