jackstay

American  

[jak-stey] / ˈdʒækˌsteɪ /

noun

Nautical.

1. a rod or batten, following a yard, gaff, or boom, to which one edge of a sail is bent.

2. a rail for guiding the movement of the hanks of a sail.

3. a transverse stay for stiffening a mast having a gaff sail, coming downward and outward from the head of the mast, passing over a spreader at the level of the gaff, then inclining inward to the mast again near the foot.

4. jack rod.

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jackstay British  

/ ˈdʒækˌsteɪ /

noun

1. a metal rod, wire rope, or wooden batten to which an edge of a sail is fastened along a yard

2. a support for the parrel of a yard

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Etymology

Origin of jackstay

First recorded in 1830–40; jack ¹ + stay ³

Example Sentences

Pulling myself along the jackstay until I reached the bunt, I managed to grasp a line that was tailing taut downward toward the deck.

From Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate" by Hains, T. Jenkins (Thornton Jenkins)

At his touch, as though by magic, the young fellow calmed down, and Stubbins—reaching round him—grasped the jackstay on the other side.

From The Ghost Pirates by Hodgson, William Hope

They were 32 ft. long and spaced 45 ft. apart, and connected by a jackstay to which the nets were attached.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 601, July 9, 1887 by Various

A second later my feet were again on the foot rope, and my hands fastened for dear life to the jackstay.

From The Blood Ship by Springer, Norman

Jackson, who was outside of me, gripped the jackstay and threw his feet around the yard-arm which was springing and jumping away at a terrific rate with the shock of the cracking topsail.

From Mr. Trunnell, Mate of the Ship "Pirate" by Hains, T. Jenkins (Thornton Jenkins)