backstay

¹

[ bak-stey ]

noun

1. Machinery. a supporting or checking piece in a mechanism.
2. Building Trades. an anchored tension member, as a cable, permanently or temporarily supporting a compression member, as a tower or pole, subject to a pull above its base from the opposite direction.
3. a strip of leather at the back of a shoe used for reinforcement and sometimes to connect the quarters.

backstay

²

[ bak-stey ]

noun

1. Nautical. any of various shrouds forming part of a vessel's standing rigging and leading aft from masts above a lower mast to the sides or stern of the vessel in order to reinforce the masts against forward pull.

backstay

/ ˈbækˌsteɪ /

noun

1. nautical a stay leading aft from the upper part of a mast to the deck or stern
2. machinery a supporting piece or arresting part
3. anything that supports or strengthens the back of something, such as leather covering the back seam of a shoe

Word History and Origins

Origin of backstay¹

First recorded in 1860–65; back ¹ + stay ²

Origin of backstay²

First recorded in 1620–30; back ¹ + stay ³

Example Sentences

It has devised a way to race without a backstay - the system that tensions the rig - which gives it an aerodynamic advantage.

From Washington Times

It has devised a way to race without a backstay — the system that tensions the rig — which gives it an aerodynamic advantage.

From Seattle Times

A backstay floated dangling from it, stout rawhide rope, and I used this for lashing mast and keel together.

From Literature

This, with a few topmast and topgallant backstays cut away, and a few shot through our sails, is the only injury the Peacock has sustained.

From Project Gutenberg

A cord came down each side aslant to the gunwale, and was fastened there—these were the backstays to strengthen the mast when the wind blew rough.

From Project Gutenberg