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

Iron plates by which the lower end of the bobstay is attached to the stem.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

No use; the captain knows the boom from the bobstay, and if he isn't a Knight of the Golden Fleece, you can't pull wool over his eyes.

From Dikes and Ditches Young America in Holland and Belguim by Optic, Oliver

The eye in the stern is called the bobstay plate.

From Boys' Book of Model Boats by Yates, Raymond F. (Raymond Francis)

"I 'll tell you what," 'Frisco Kid suggested half an hour later, while they clung to the bobstay preparatory to climbing out.

From The Cruise of the Dazzler by London, Jack

The bobstay has a loop at the nose and ends in a turnbuckle that fastens to the anchor plate under the cockpit, aft.

From The Boy Mechanic: Volume 1 700 Things for Boys to Do by Popular Mechanics Co.