Emily Dickinson Lexicon

A-THWART', prep. [a and thwart. See Thwart.]

1. Across; from side to side; transverse; as, athwart the path.
2. In marine language, across the line of a ship's course, as, a fleet standing athwart our course. Athwart house, is the situation of a ship when she lies across the stem of another, whether near, or at some distance. Athwart the fore foot, is a phrase applied to the flight of a cannon ball, across another ship's course, ahead, as a signal for her to bring to. Athwart ships, reaching across the ship from side to side, or in that direction. – Mar. Dict.