jackstay

American  

[jak-stey] / ˈdʒækˌsteɪ /

noun

Nautical.

1. a rod or batten, following a yard, gaff, or boom, to which one edge of a sail is bent.

2. a rail for guiding the movement of the hanks of a sail.

3. a transverse stay for stiffening a mast having a gaff sail, coming downward and outward from the head of the mast, passing over a spreader at the level of the gaff, then inclining inward to the mast again near the foot.

4. jack rod.

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jackstay British  

/ ˈdʒækˌsteɪ /

noun

1. a metal rod, wire rope, or wooden batten to which an edge of a sail is fastened along a yard

2. a support for the parrel of a yard

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Etymology

Origin of jackstay

First recorded in 1830–40; jack ¹ + stay ³

Example Sentences

For a moment all hands clung desperately to the jackstay, fending the thrashing sail with bent heads; then some of the bolder spirits made to come off the yard....

From The Brassbounder A Tale of the Sea by Bone, David W.

I put my left arm round the Ordinary's body—getting hold of the jackstay on the other side.

From The Ghost Pirates by Hodgson, William Hope

Jackson, who was outside of me, gripped the jackstay and threw his feet around the yard-arm which was springing and jumping away at a terrific rate with the shock of the cracking topsail.

From Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate" by Hains, T. Jenkins (Thornton Jenkins)

A second later my feet were again on the foot rope, and my hands fastened for dear life to the jackstay.

From The Blood Ship by Springer, Norman

I had traced out bit by bit, until now I could clearly see the jackstay, running along the top of the royal mast; and, you know, the royal itself was set.

From The Ghost Pirates by Hodgson, William Hope