'To heave about' definitions:

Definition of 'To heave about'

From: GCIDE
  • Heave \Heave\ (h[=e]v), v. t. [imp. Heaved (h[=e]vd), or Hove (h[=o]v); p. p. Heaved, Hove, formerly Hoven (h[=o]"v'n); p. pr. & vb. n. Heaving.] [OE. heven, hebben, AS. hebban; akin to OS. hebbian, D. heffen, OHG. heffan, hevan, G. heben, Icel. hefja, Sw. h[aum]fva, Dan. h[ae]ve, Goth. hafjan, L. capere to take, seize; cf. Gr. kw`ph handle. Cf. Accept, Behoof, Capacious, Forceps, Haft, Receipt.]
  • 1. To cause to move upward or onward by a lifting effort; to lift; to raise; to hoist; -- often with up; as, the wave heaved the boat on land. [1913 Webster]
  • One heaved ahigh, to be hurled down below. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Heave, as now used, implies that the thing raised is heavy or hard to move; but formerly it was used in a less restricted sense. [1913 Webster]
  • Here a little child I stand, Heaving up my either hand. --Herrick. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To throw; to cast; -- obsolete, provincial, or colloquial, except in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the lead; to heave the log. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To force from, or into, any position; to cause to move; also, to throw off; -- mostly used in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the ship ahead. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To raise or force from the breast; to utter with effort; as, to heave a sigh. [1913 Webster]
  • The wretched animal heaved forth such groans. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To cause to swell or rise, as the breast or bosom. [1913 Webster]
  • The glittering, finny swarms That heave our friths, and crowd upon our shores. --Thomson. [1913 Webster]
  • To heave a cable short (Naut.), to haul in cable till the ship is almost perpendicularly above the anchor.
  • To heave a ship ahead (Naut.), to warp her ahead when not under sail, as by means of cables.
  • To heave a ship down (Naut.), to throw or lay her down on one side; to careen her.
  • To heave a ship to (Naut.), to bring the ship's head to the wind, and stop her motion.
  • To heave about (Naut.), to put about suddenly.
  • To heave in (Naut.), to shorten (cable).
  • To heave in stays (Naut.), to put a vessel on the other tack.
  • To heave out a sail (Naut.), to unfurl it.
  • To heave taut (Naut.), to turn a capstan, etc., till the rope becomes strained. See Taut, and Tight.
  • To heave the lead (Naut.), to take soundings with lead and line.
  • To heave the log. (Naut.) See Log.
  • To heave up anchor (Naut.), to raise it from the bottom of the sea or elsewhere. [1913 Webster]