jib
1 Americannoun
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any of various triangular sails set forward of a forestaysail or fore-topmast staysail.
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the inner one of two such sails, set inward from a flying jib.
adjective
idioms
verb (used with or without object)
verb (used without object)
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to move restively sidewise or backward instead of forward, as an animal in harness; balk.
-
to balk at doing something; defer action; procrastinate.
noun
noun
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the projecting arm of a crane.
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the boom of a derrick.
noun
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nautical any triangular sail set forward of the foremast of a vessel
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someone's manner, behaviour, style, etc
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obsolete
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the lower lip, usually when it protrudes forwards in a grimace
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the face or nose
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verb
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(often foll by at) to be reluctant (to); hold back (from); balk (at)
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(of an animal) to stop short and refuse to go forwards
the horse jibbed at the jump
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nautical variant of gybe
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
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
Explanation
A jib is a sail at the front of a sailboat. The triangle-shaped jib hangs in front of the boat's mast. Some sailboats use only a jib to move, but most of them combine a main sail, which does most of the work, and a jib, which makes the boat more stable. Jib is also a verb, meaning "move to the opposite side of the ship" or "refuse to follow instructions." The old-fashioned compliment "I like the cut of your jib," or "I like the way you look," comes from nautical slang, in which jib meant "face."
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.
See Examples For:
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
To borrow the old sailing expression, they liked the cut of his jib.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2024
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
Once we’re clear of the port, the crew gets to work, hoisting the main sail, followed by the jib.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 21, 2023
The sails were dry and he bagged them all except the working jib and mainsail which he left up, hanging like limp rags waiting for wind.
From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen
You swerved; you shied; you jibbed; you baulked.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 6, 2016
But when Congress jibbed a bit, the President said he could accept a $1.3 billion "bookkeeping" cut.
From Time Magazine Archive
But the leaders of the 125-lawyer firm jibbed at his demands.
From Time Magazine Archive
Before another man could run to the helm the vessel yawed to port; the boom, already wounded, jibbed over and parted amidships, rendering the huge mainsail of no use, and creating much confusion on board.
From Captain Mugford Our Salt and Fresh Water Tutors by W. Herbert Holloway
"Miss Ruth, if you had a horse now that jibbed, would you lick him?"
From Miss Elliot's Girls Stories of Beasts, Birds, and Butterflies by Mary Spring Corning
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said that the problem was a recurring one, telling MPs that "forced entry, tailgating, and so-called jibbing, are not victimless acts".
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2025
You find the jibbing echos of the movement in Rom-Coms like "Scott Pilgrim Versus the World" today.
From New York Times ● Sep. 17, 2016
Former House Speaker John Boehner cried frequently enough during his tenure that it became expected—so at least the jibbing he received didn’t make him feel the need to hide his emotions.
From Time ● Feb. 8, 2016
Eric Crozier is here and doing his stuff without jibbing, and I seem able to turn honest English prose with duetinnos or arias when required to do so.
From The Guardian ● May 6, 2010
This she did most neatly but none the less completely by running her nose into the resistless structure of the jibbing seaplane.
From Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. A story of the Great War by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
