avast

Etymology
From the.

Interjection

 * 1)  hold fast!; desist!; stay!.
 * 2)  listen!; pay attention!
 * 1)  listen!; pay attention!
 * 1)  listen!; pay attention!

Usage notes

 * “Avast hauling!” (meaning, “stop hauling”) is (or was, in 1950) still commonly used in U.S. Navy deck operations.
 * The slang use in imitation of pirate talk is based on a misconstrual of the meaning. If uttered by a historical sailor, the meaning of the sentence “Avast, ye Matey” would have been, “Desist, you novice seamen”.

Etymology
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Noun

 * 1) condition, state