pooping
n. uncountablen. the act of a ship's back end dipping under a wave. This happens when a large wave comes from behind and breaks over the rear part of the boat.
n. the action of a heavy sea breaking over the stern of a vessel while it is running before the wind. Refers specifically to the stern being submerged or swamped by a following wave.
The small boat narrowly avoided pooping in the heavy storm.
While running downwind in the gale, the yacht suffered a pooping that filled the cockpit with seawater.
Experienced sailors fear pooping more than most other hazards, as the weight of a following sea crashing onto the stern can easily swamp the vessel or cause a loss of steering.
Primarily used in nautical contexts; often appears as a gerund to describe the event.