jib

¹ American  

[jib] / dʒɪb /

noun

Nautical.

1. any of various triangular sails set forward of a forestaysail or fore-topmast staysail.

2. the inner one of two such sails, set inward from a flying jib.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a jib.

   jib clew.

idioms

1. cut of one's jib, one's general appearance, mien, or manner.

   I could tell by the cut of his jib that he wasn't the kind of person I'd want to deal with.

jib ² American  

[jib] / dʒɪb /

Or jibb

verb (used with or without object)

jibbed, jibbing

1. variants of jibe.

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jib ³ American  

[jib] / dʒɪb /

verb (used without object)

jibbed, jibbing

1. to move restively sidewise or backward instead of forward, as an animal in harness; balk.

2. to balk at doing something; defer action; procrastinate.

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noun

1. a horse or other animal that jibs.

jib ⁴ American  

[jib] / dʒɪb /

noun

1. the projecting arm of a crane.

2. the boom of a derrick.

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jib ¹ British  

/ dʒɪb /

noun

1. nautical any triangular sail set forward of the foremast of a vessel

2. someone's manner, behaviour, style, etc

3. obsolete

   1. the lower lip, usually when it protrudes forwards in a grimace

   2. the face or nose

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jib ² British  

/ dʒɪb /

verb

1. (often foll by at) to be reluctant (to); hold back (from); balk (at)

2. (of an animal) to stop short and refuse to go forwards

   the horse jibbed at the jump

3. nautical variant of gybe

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jib ³ British  

/ dʒɪb /

noun

1. the projecting arm of a crane or the boom of a derrick, esp one that is pivoted to enable it to be raised or lowered

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jib ⁴ British  

/ dʒɪb /

noun

1. dialect (often plural) a contortion of the face; a face

   stop making jibs

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jib More Idioms  

1. see cut of one's jib

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Other Word Forms

• jibber noun

Etymology

Origin of jib¹

First recorded in 1655–65; origin uncertain

Origin of jib³

First recorded in 1805–15; perhaps special use of jib ²

Origin of jib⁴

First recorded in 1755–65; apparently short for gibbet

Example Sentences

She also uses a floating router jib for most of their joinery since the machine can’t rest on the wood’s uneven surface.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

It leans like a ladder in midair, “and the camera is on another track with a jib arm and a dolly attached to the top of the jib.”

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2023

I think we auditioned and they liked the cut of our jib.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 19, 2021

People were chanting "jib, jib, jib", he said.

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2021

Tied, and stripped of its main and jib sails, the dinghy floated at a perfect right angle away from the far end of the pier.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• back off
• blanch
• cower
• cringe
• flinch
• grimace
• recoil