What does "afore" mean?

Afore: (Naut.) In the fore part of a vessel.

Additional senses

  1. 2.Before (in all its senses). [Archaic]
  2. 3.(Naut.) Before; in front of; farther forward than; as, afore the windlass. Afore the mast, among the common sailors; -- a phrase used to distinguish the ship's crew from the officers.

Sources