jibe

or gibe, gybe, jib, jibb

[ jahyb ]

/ dʒaɪb /

Nautical

verb (used without object), jibed, jib·ing.

to shift from one side to the other when running before the wind, as a fore-and-aft sail or its boom.

to alter course so that a fore-and-aft sail shifts in this manner.

verb (used with object), jibed, jib·ing.

to cause to jibe.

noun

the act of jibing.

Nearby words

Origin of jibe

1685–95; variant of gybe < Dutch gijben, more commonly gijpen

jib

or jibb

[ jib ]

/ dʒɪb /

Nautical

verb (used with or without object), jibbed, jib·bing, noun

jibe¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for jibb

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 jibb

jib

/ (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

the lower lip, usually when it protrudes forwards in a grimace
the face or nose

Word Origin for jib

C17: of unknown origin

jib

/ (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 Formsjibber, noun

Word Origin for jib

C19: of unknown origin

jib

/ (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

jib

⁴

/ (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)

jibe

jib or jibb (dʒɪb)

/ (dʒaɪb) /

verb, noun

nautical variants of gybe

jibe

/ (dʒaɪb) /

verb

a variant spelling of gibe 1

Derived Formsjiber, nounjibingly, adverb

jibe

/ (dʒaɪb) /

verb

(intr) informal to agree; accord; harmonize

Word Origin for jibe

C19: of unknown origin

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

Word Origin and History for jibb

jib

"foresail of a ship," 1660s, gibb, of uncertain origin, perhaps related to gibbet, from notion of a sail "hanging" from a masthead [Barnhart, OED]. Or perhaps from jib (v.) "shift a sail or boom" (1690s), from Dutch gijben, apparently related to gijk "boom or spar of a sailing ship." Said to indicate a ship's character to an observant sailor as a strange vessel approaches at sea; also nautical slang for "face," hence cut of (one's) jib "personal appearance" (1821).

jibe

"agree, fit," 1813, of unknown origin, perhaps a figurative extension of earlier jib, gybe (v.) "shift a sail or boom" (see jib). OED, however, suggests a phonetic variant of chime, as if meaning "to chime in with, to be in harmony." Related: Jibed; jibes; jibing.

jibe

1560s, perhaps from Middle French giber "to handle roughly," or an alteration of gaber "to mock."

Idioms and Phrases with jibb

jib

see cut of one's jib