Avast means stop or desist in nautical language, often misused as a greeting. It originated from the Dutch term “houd vast” meaning to hold fast and is commonly used in the maritime community. Pirates have adopted avast along with other nautical terms, but modern piracy is a serious issue. Avast can be used to get attention or indicate an emergency situation on a ship. Learning nautical terms can make social experiences more fun and useful on International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
To a pirate or any member of the nautical community, “avast” means stop or desist. The term avast has become so thoroughly integrated into pirate parlance that few individuals are aware of the true meaning of the phrase. It is commonly misused in place of “ahoy,” which is a nautical greeting. People who would like to speak accurately like a pirate might want to invest in a nautical dictionary or do some research on traditional sailing terms.
The word “avast” was first documented in 1681 and probably originates from a Dutch sailing term, houd vast, which means to hold fast. The term could refer to military action or the need to hold fast to ropes and lines aboard a ship. Avast has since been used extensively in the maritime community as an interjection much like stop or halt.
Like other nautical terms, avast has been integrated into the discourse of other communities of individuals. Along with phrases like “me hearties,” “weigh anchor,” and “arr,” the term has been adopted by a section of the freedom-enhancing counterculture movement traditionally associated with piracy. While pirates are romanticized in modern society, they have lived difficult and often unpleasant lives. Modern pirates pose a serious risk to shipping traffic in areas off the coast of Africa and parts of Asia. It is assumed that most sailors masquerading as pirates simply want to infuse their lives with a nautical flavor.
Avast should be used to get attention, just like someone yells “stop” at a driver who is about to collide with something. The term could be used in a casual greeting if the people in question were in a crowded room or other public area where it might be difficult to get attention. Avast can also be used on a ship, of course, to indicate that a sailor should stop what he is doing, especially in an emergency situation.
Speaking like a pirate or sailor requires some research, as some languages can get quite complex. Spicing your talk with some nautical terms like ahoy and avast can make your social experiences more fun and come in very handy during International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19). People interested in learning more about pirates and nautical parlance might consider searching for “pirates” in their favorite search engine.
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