forestay
Americannoun
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a stay leading aft and upward from the stem or knightheads of a vessel to the head of the fore lower mast; the lowermost stay of a foremast.
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a stay leading aft and upwards toward the mainmast of a sloop, knockabout, cutter, ketch, yawl, or dandy.
noun
Etymology
Origin of forestay
First recorded in 1325–75, forestay is from the Middle English word forstay. See fore-, stay 3
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.
On the morning of the seventh day out, she had covered 800 miles and was making splendid headway, with her mainsail, foresail, forestay sail and jib set and full.
From Time Magazine Archive
As we approached Molokai at night in 25-knot winds the chute became progressively harder to manage and ultimately wrapped itself on the forestay.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Yuss; 'ad bloomin' rough weather, too; but it's all right if ye 'old on to this 'ere forestay."
From Punch, or the London Charivari, May 27, 1914 by Sir Owen Seaman
I would first furl all and run under the storm forestay sail, unfid the topmasts going in, and have a long range of both bower cables on deck, and the sheet anchor ready.
From A Sailor of King George by A. Beckford Bevan
Needless to say, we had hoisted no lantern on the forestay since the night the other boats had driven away from us or gone down.
From Foe-Farrell by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
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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.
