bobstay

American  

[bob-stey] / ˈbɒbˌsteɪ /

noun

Nautical.

1. a rope, chain, or rod from the outer end of the bowsprit to the cutwater.

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bobstay British  

/ ˈbɒbˌsteɪ /

noun

1. a strong stay between a bowsprit and the stem of a vessel for holding down the bowsprit

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Etymology

Origin of bobstay

First recorded in 1750–60; bob ¹ + stay ³

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bobstay

To take the pull off the tops, the shrouds are continued round to the mast as "futtock" shrouds, on the same principle as the foretopmast-stay finds its continuation in the bobstay.

From Golden Days for Boys and Girls, Vol. XIII, Nov. 28, 1891 by James Elverson

A ship running down channel had walked clean over the poor old Dolphin, and I had got hold of the bobstay.

From By Sheer Pluck, a Tale of the Ashanti War by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

With the ship pitching to a heavy head sea, this was by no means easy, yet it was simple compared to the work of repairing the damaged bobstay.

From The Romance of Polar Exploration Interesting Descriptions of Arctic and Antarctic Adventure from the Earliest Time to the Voyage of the ?Discovery? by G. Firth Scott

Dropping their oars, the plucky British tars sprang into the chains, swarmed up the bobstay and over the bow, and used each other's backs as ladders to aid them to reach the schooner's deck.

From The Naval History of the United States Volume 1 by Willis J. (Willis John) Abbot

The jib, however, must be hauled down; and with a hoarse shout to Moran, Jimmy lowered himself from the bowsprit until he felt the wire bobstay under his feet.

From The Secret of the Reef by Harold Bindloss