Plain English Meaning

Yawing is when the nose of the aircraft swings left or right, like turning your head to look sideways. The whole aircraft pivots around an imaginary line running straight up and down through its center.

Full Definition

Yawing is rotation of the aircraft about its vertical (normal) axis, which passes through the aircraft from top to bottom. It moves the nose of the aircraft left or right and is controlled primarily by the rudder.

Context Anchor

Seen when learning the aircraft's three axes of movement and when discussing directional control with the rudder.

Derivation

From the older nautical term 'yaw,' meaning a ship's deviation off its . borrowed the term directly from sailing, where a yawing ship swings its side to side. The same idea applies to an aircraft swinging its nose left or right.