forestay
Americannoun
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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.
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a stay leading aft and upwards toward the mainmast of a sloop, knockabout, cutter, ketch, yawl, or dandy.
noun
Etymology
Origin of forestay
First recorded in 1325–75, forestay is from the Middle English word forstay. See fore-, stay 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
A little above her forestay a small window, uncurtained and brightly lit, broke the long stretch of featureless black wall.
From Shining Ferry by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
The mast also was leaning aft, the forestay having been carried away.
From Personal Reminiscences in Book Making and Some Short Stories by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne
Providentially he clung to the forestay, or he would have, the next instant, been overboard; but he saved himself.
From Roger Willoughby A Story of the Times of Benbow by Archibald Webb
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