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jib

1
[ jib ]
/ dʒɪb /
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See synonyms for jib on Thesaurus.com
noun Nautical.
any of various triangular sails set forward of a forestaysail or fore-topmast staysail.Compare flying jib, inner jib.
the inner one of two such sails, set inward from a flying jib.
adjective
of or relating to a jib: jib clew.
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Idioms about jib

    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.

Origin of jib

1
First recorded in 1655–65; origin uncertain

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH jib

jib , jibe

Other definitions for jib (2 of 4)

jib2

or jibb

[ jib ]
/ dʒɪb /
Nautical
verb (used with or without object), noun jibbed, jib·bing,
variants of jibe3.

Other definitions for jib (3 of 4)

jib3
[ jib ]
/ dʒɪb /
Chiefly British
verb (used without object), jibbed, jib·bing.
to move restively sidewise or backward instead of forward, as an animal in harness; balk.
to balk at doing something; defer action; procrastinate.
noun
a horse or other animal that jibs.

Origin of jib

3
First recorded in 1805–15; perhaps special use of jib2

OTHER WORDS FROM jib

jibber, noun

Other definitions for jib (4 of 4)

jib4
[ jib ]
/ dʒɪb /
noun
the projecting arm of a crane.
the boom of a derrick.

Origin of jib

4
First recorded in 1755–65; apparently short for gibbet
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to jib

back off, blanch, cower, cringe, flinch, grimace, recoil, blench, dodge, duck, quail, shrink, shy, start, swerve, turn, make a face

How to use jib in a sentence

  • After enduring this life for several weeks, I managed to make my escape one day while Mrs. Jibb was cleaning my cage.

    The Joyous Story of Toto|Laura E. Richards

British Dictionary definitions for jib (1 of 4)

jib1
/ (dʒɪb) /
noun
nautical any triangular sail set forward of the foremast of a vessel
cut of someone's jib someone's manner, behaviour, style, etc
obsolete
  1. the lower lip, usually when it protrudes forwards in a grimace
  2. the face or nose

Word Origin for jib

C17: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for jib (2 of 4)

jib2
/ (dʒɪb) /
verb jibs, jibbing or jibbed (intr) mainly British
(often foll by at) to be reluctant (to); hold back (from); balk (at)
(of an animal) to stop short and refuse to go forwardsthe horse jibbed at the jump
nautical variant of gybe

Derived forms of jib

jibber, noun

Word Origin for jib

C19: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for jib (3 of 4)

jib3
/ (dʒɪb) /
noun
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

Word Origin for jib

C18: probably based on gibbet

British Dictionary definitions for jib (4 of 4)

jib4
/ (dʒɪb) /
noun
(often plural) South Wales dialect a contortion of the face; a facestop making jibs

Word Origin for jib

special use of jib 1 (in the sense: lower lip, face)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with jib

jib

see cut of one's jib

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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