triatic stay

[trahy-at-ik]

noun

Nautical.

1. a backstay for the head of a fore-and-aft-rigged topmast, running down to the head of the lower mast next aft.

Word History and Origins

Origin of triatic stay¹

1835–45; perhaps tri- + -ate ¹ + -ic

Example Sentences

It is called the "triatic stay," and Loughran was climbing to it.

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Then out against the glooming sky was limned the swaying form, working its way along the triatic stay hand over hand, in an effort to reach the mainmast.

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