avast

Related to avast: AVG

a·vast

A0543500 (ə-văst′)interj. Nautical Used as a command to stop or desist.
[From Middle Dutch hou vast, hold fast : hou, houd, imperative of houden, to hold + vast, fast; see past- in Indo-European roots.]

avast

(əˈvɑːst) sentence substitute (Nautical Terms) nautical stop! cease![C17: perhaps from Dutch hou'vast hold fast]

a•vast

(əˈvæst, əˈvɑst)
imperative verb. Naut. (used as a command to stop or cease). [1675–85; perhaps < Dutch houdvast hold fast]