Veer, v. t. To direct to a different
course; to turn; to wear; as, to veer, or wear, a vessel.
To veer and haul (Naut.), to pull tight and
slacken alternately. Totten. -- To veer away
or out (Naut.), to let out; to slacken and let
run; to pay out; as, to veer away the cable; to veer out a
rope.
Veer (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Veered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Veering.] [F. virer (cf. Sp. virar, birar), LL.
virare; perhaps fr. L. vibrare to brandish, vibrate (cf.
Vibrate); or cf. L. viriae armlets, bracelets, viriola
a little bracelet (cf. Ferrule). Cf. Environ.] To
change direction; to turn; to shift; as, wind veers to the west or
north. "His veering gait." Wordsworth.
And as he leads, the following navy
veers.
Dryden.
an ordinary community which is hostile or friendly as
passion or as interest may veer about.
Burke.
To veer and haul (Naut.), to vary the
course or direction; -- said of the wind, which veers aft and
hauls forward. The wind is also said to veer when it shifts
with the sun.