Definition

A group of sailors on a ship who are responsible for managing the sails located at the back of the vessel. They work on the quarter-deck and typically include crew members who do not need to climb high up on the ship.

Example

The afterguard was responsible for managing the sails during the race.

Conversation

Have you seen the afterguard working on that yacht lately?

Yeah, they seem really skilled at managing the sails.

I wonder how they train for such specialized roles.

Probably a lot of hands-on experience at sea!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Afterguard → The word is formed from "after" (from Old English "æfter", meaning behind or later) and "guard" (from Old French "garde", meaning to watch or protect). The term refers to a protective position or watch kept behind a certain point, especially in nautical contexts.

Memory Tip

Think of someone watching or protecting from behind ('after') — that's what afterguard means.

Visually Confused Words