fetch about
C1 formal intransitive
In simple words
To turn a boat around so it is going in a different direction.
Literal meaning: To bring (fetch) a ship about (around to a new direction).
Meanings
1 C1 formal
(Nautical) To bring a sailing vessel around onto a new tack or course.
"The captain ordered the crew to fetch about before they hit the reef."
Usage notes
Highly specialized nautical/maritime term. Rarely used outside of sailing or historical seafaring contexts. Not part of everyday modern English. ESL learners are unlikely to encounter this in general use.
Commonly used with
ship vessel bow course wind tack
Forms
Base
fetch about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fetches about
he/she/it
Past simple
fetched about
yesterday
Past participle
fetched about
have + pp
-ing form
fetching about
continuous
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