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

Byers started thinking about imaginary books 15 years ago, when he was having a jib door — a door disguised as part of a wall of bookshelves — made for his private library.

From New York Times • Dec. 4, 2024

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

With their coaches shouting directions, Jayden yanked the tiller, Rondell snapped the jib and they surged into the lead.

From Washington Post • Aug. 27, 2022

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

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2021

He clawed the jib down, wadded it in a ball and—with it still hooked to the forestay—he opened the forward hatch and jammed all of the sail he could into the opening.

From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

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