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

"Yuss; 'ad bloomin' rough weather, too; but it's all right if ye 'old on to this 'ere forestay."

From Punch, or the London Charivari, May 27, 1914 by Seaman, Owen, Sir

A lamp hung on the forestay as a beacon for the boats and one could see the sweep of planks and line of the rail.

From Wyndham's Pal by Bindloss, Harold

We had a lantern with a bright light hanging from the forestay, to show our position to any passing steamer which might otherwise have run us down.

From A Yacht Voyage Round England by Kingston, William Henry Giles