chesstree

[ ches-tree ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. (in the 17th and 18th centuries) a wooden fastening with one or more sheaves, attached to the topside of a sailing vessel, through which the windward tack of a course was rove.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chesstree¹

1620–30; perhaps by folk etymology < French châssis frame; chassis

Example Sentences

A burton-tackle to the chesstree.

From Time Magazine Archive

Those who performed the duty were slung in ropes, that they might not be washed away; and hardly was it completed, when a heavy roll, assisted by a jerking heave from a sea which struck her on the chesstree, sent the foremast over the starboard cathead.

From Project Gutenberg

We received two Double-headed-Shot in the Bread-room, which were soon plugg'd up, and one Shot under the Larboard Chesstree, but so low in the Water, that could not get at it, and the Ship prov'd leaky.

From Project Gutenberg

On a sudden, the frigate heeled over to starboard, and at the same time a sea broke over her chesstree, which nearly drowned us where we were clinging.

From Project Gutenberg

But the mountainous waves took her with irresistible force from her chesstree, retarding her velocity, and forcing her each moment nearer to the reef.

From Project Gutenberg