FreeScrabbleDictionary

avast

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
8
Words With Friends
9
Letters
5
Pronunciation
/əˈvɑːst/
See all 3 pronunciations
/əˈvɑːst/ · /-ˈvæst/ · /əˈvæst/

Definition of avast

2 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

intj

  1. Hold fast!; cease!; stop!
    “Then pull avvay, hoa up, hoa up, hoa up, ſo avaſt there, Sir.”
    “Avaſt, brother, avaſt! ſheer off—Yo ho! you turnkey, vvhy don't you keep a better look out? here's one of your crazy priſoners broke from his laſhings, I do ſuppoſe.”
    “[T]he sail went into the water, and he could not drag it in. "Avast heaving," said Gascoigne, "till I throw her up and take the wind out of it."”
    “[S]he caught me as I was again trying to force the open the door. "I won't allow it; I won't have my premises spoiled. Go for the locksmith, there's one about a mile from here. But avast!" putting her hand in her side-pocket, "here's a key that'll fit, I guess; let's see." And with that, she turned it in the lock; but, alas! Queequeg's supplemental bolt remained unwithdrawn within.”
    “"Avast, there!" cried Silver. "Who are you, Tom Morgan? Maybe you thought you was cap'n here, perhaps. By the powers, but I'll teach you better![…]"”
See all 2 definitions

intj

  1. Hold fast!; cease!; stop!
    “Then pull avvay, hoa up, hoa up, hoa up, ſo avaſt there, Sir.”
    “Avaſt, brother, avaſt! ſheer off—Yo ho! you turnkey, vvhy don't you keep a better look out? here's one of your crazy priſoners broke from his laſhings, I do ſuppoſe.”
    “[T]he sail went into the water, and he could not drag it in. "Avast heaving," said Gascoigne, "till I throw her up and take the wind out of it."”
    “[S]he caught me as I was again trying to force the open the door. "I won't allow it; I won't have my premises spoiled. Go for the locksmith, there's one about a mile from here. But avast!" putting her hand in her side-pocket, "here's a key that'll fit, I guess; let's see." And with that, she turned it in the lock; but, alas! Queequeg's supplemental bolt remained unwithdrawn within.”
    “"Avast, there!" cried Silver. "Who are you, Tom Morgan? Maybe you thought you was cap'n here, perhaps. By the powers, but I'll teach you better![…]"”
  2. (slang)In imitation of pirates: listen!; pay attention!
    “Avast, ye landlubbers!”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

Probably borrowed from Dutch hou vast, houd vast (“hold fast!”), from houd (imperative of houden, “to hold”) + vast (“fast, firm, tight”). Doublet of hold fast.

Anagrams of avast

2 plays · some not in Scrabble

Words you can make from avast

16 playable · top: TAVS (7 pts)

Best play tavs 7 points

4-letter words

3 words

3-letter words

8 words

2-letter words

4 words

Find your best play with avast

See every word you can make from a set of letters that includes avast, or browse word lists you can mine for high-scoring plays.

Find more plays Browse word lists