[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

sheer \sheer\, n.
   1. naut.
      a the longitudinal upward curvature of the deck,
          gunwale, and lines of a vessel, as when viewed from
          the side.
      b the position of a vessel riding at single anchor and
          swinging clear of it.
          1913 webster

   2. a turn or change in a course.
      1913 webster

            give the canoe a sheer and get nearer to the shore.
                                                  --cooper.
      1913 webster

   3. pl. shears see shear.
      1913 webster

   sheer batten shipbuilding, a long strip of wood to guide
      the carpenters in following the sheer plan.

   sheer boom, a boom slanting across a stream to direct
      floating logs to one side.

   sheer hulk. see shear hulk, under hulk.

   sheer plan, or sheer draught shipbuilding, a projection
      of the lines of a vessel on a vertical longitudinal plane
      passing through the middle line of the vessel.

   sheer pole naut., an iron rod lashed to the shrouds just
      above the dead-eyes and parallel to the ratlines.

   sheer strake shipbuilding, the strake under the gunwale
      on the top side. --totten.

   to break sheer naut., to deviate from sheer, and risk
      fouling the anchor.
      1913 webster
see also:
shear sheer batten sheer boom sheer hulk shear hulk hulk 
sheer plan sheer draught sheer pole sheer strake to break sheer 

Strake >> S Words
Strake, definition of term: Strake
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Sheer >> S Words
Sheer, definition of term: Sheer
sheer_pag1.html