veer

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
veer1

▶verb

• 1 change direction suddenly.

  ■ suddenly change in opinion, subject, etc.

• 2 (of the wind) change direction clockwise around the points of the compass. The opposite of back.

▶noun a sudden change of direction.

– origin C16: from Fr. virer, perh. from an alt. of L. gyrare (see gyrate).

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
veer2

▶verb Nautical, dated slacken or let out (a rope or cable) in a controlled way.

– origin ME: from MDu. vieren.