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.
2. A turn or change in a course.
Give the canoe a sheer and get nearer to the shore. Cooper.
3. pl. Shears See Shear.
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, orSheer 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.