forestay

American  

[fawr-stey, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌsteɪ, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

1. a stay leading aft and upward from the stem or knightheads of a vessel to the head of the fore lower mast; the lowermost stay of a foremast.

2. a stay leading aft and upwards toward the mainmast of a sloop, knockabout, cutter, ketch, yawl, or dandy.

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forestay British  

/ ˈfɔːˌsteɪ /

noun

1. nautical an adjustable stay leading from the truck of the foremast to the deck, stem, or bowsprit, for controlling the motion or bending of the mast

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Etymology

Origin of forestay

First recorded in 1325–75, forestay is from the Middle English word forstay. See fore-, stay ³

Example Sentences

As we approached Molokai at night in 25-knot winds the chute became progressively harder to manage and ultimately wrapped itself on the forestay.

From Time Magazine Archive

On the morning of the seventh day out, she had covered 800 miles and was making splendid headway, with her mainsail, foresail, forestay sail and jib set and full.

From Time Magazine Archive

“The cable’s almost up and down, sir,” answered Perkins, the chief mate, who was standing by the knight-heads and hanging on by the forestay as he leaned over to watch the cable.

From The Cruise of the Thetis A Tale of the Cuban Insurrection by Cuneo, Cyrus

To any one looking through the cabin from the companionway Trask would be visible against the lantern hanging from a forestay if he walked erect in crossing the cabin.

From Isle o' Dreams by Coleman, Ralph P. (Ralph Pallen)

Next day Parmiter was in the foretop splicing the forestay.

From In Clive's Command A Story of the Fight for India by Strang, Herbert