Afore \A*fore"\, adv. [OE. afore, aforn, AS. onforan or [ae]tforan; pref. a- + fore.]1. Before. [Obs.]
If he have never drunk wine afore. --Shak.
2. (Naut.) In the fore part of a vessel.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Afore \A*fore"\, prep.1. Before (in all its senses). [Archaic]
2. (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.