Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Athwart \A*thwart"\, prep. [Pref. a- + thwart.]
   1. Across; from side to side of.

            Athwart the thicket lone.             --Tennyson.

   2. (Naut.) Across the direction or course of; as, a fleet
      standing athwart our course.

   {Athwart hawse}, across the stem of another vessel, whether
      in contact or at a small distance.

   {Athwart ships}, across the ship from side to side, or in
      that direction; -- opposed to {fore and aft}.

Athwart \A*thwart"\, adv.
   1. Across, especially in an oblique direction; sidewise;
      obliquely.

            Sometimes athwart, sometimes he strook him straight.
                                                  --Spenser.

   2. Across the course; so as to thwart; perversely.

            All athwart there came A post from Wales loaden with
            heavy news.                           --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

athwart
     adv 1: at right angles to the center line of a ship
     2: at an oblique angle; "the sun shone aslant into his face"
        [syn: {obliquely}, {aslant}]