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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of jackstay

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

Example Sentences

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)

For a moment all hands clung desperately to the jackstay, fending the thrashing sail with bent heads; then some of the bolder spirits made to come off the yard....

From The Brassbounder A Tale of the Sea by Bone, David W.

I put my left arm round the Ordinary's body—getting hold of 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

I screwed round a bit, holding the jackstay with one hand, and steadying the insensible Ordinary with the other.

From The Ghost Pirates by Hodgson, William Hope