Crossword clues for backstay
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Backstay \Back"stay`\ (b[a^]k"st[=a]`), n. [Back, a. or n. + stay.]
(Naut.) A rope or stay extending from the masthead to the side of a ship, slanting a little aft, to assist the shrouds in supporting the mast. [Often used in the plural.]
A rope or strap used to prevent excessive forward motion.
Wiktionary
n. (context nautical English) A part of the rigging of a sailing ship extending from masthead the top of the mast to the back of the ship; they support the strain on all upper masts and provide additional support to the shrouds when the wind is abaft the beam.
WordNet
n. a stay that supports the back of something
Wikipedia
A backstay is a piece of standing rigging on a sailing vessel that runs from the mast to either its transom or rear quarter, counteracting the forestay and jib. It is an important sail trim control and has a direct effect on the shape of the mainsail and the headsail. Backstays are generally adjusted by block and tackle, hydraulic adjusters, or lines leading to winches.
Usage examples of "backstay".
The reply had been made many years ago, but it had improved with age, and now it made him smile as he swung off the yard, seized a shifting backstay, slid easily down it and dropped on to the forecastle.
At this word Jack leant out for the backstay and shot down on deck like a midshipman, forgetting his dignity and laddering his fine white stockings.
Lewrie was closest to the mast, so he reached a backstay first, but took a moment to decide how to proceed.
His hands were aching from the climb down a backstay, and were red from unused exertion, but beginning to toughen up.
Lewrie took hold of the preventer backstay that was already twanging with the weight of the men who had pre- ceded him and began to descend, after glancing over to sting Rolston with a smug look.
He took a death grip on the preventer backstay and locked his legs about it tighter than a virgin, without a further bit of thought.
She leaned forward, caught at a backstay, and snatched her legs from the water in a final spasm of terror before swivelling round and rolling over on to the cockpit grating deck.
Niu Kien scampered down, then slid down a backstay babbling excitedly.
Will watched Tom Tilley, a man who never smiled, hang on a backstay like a gigantic inflated sheep tick whooping and huzzahing as if someone had made him rich.
Schreuder dragged himself across the deck, clinging to mast and shroud and backstay as each wave came aboard.
Spratt, you hop down to the first luff and tell him I say to get somebody up here to serve that backstay with leather.
The sailing master hopped to the backstay and climbed it like a frog, hunching on the pull of his arms, then thrusting himself higher on the strength of his legs.
The lookout saw the trouble coming and slid to safety down the backstay, but the mast itself whipped forward under the sudden stress.
Sharina gripped a backstay overhead for support, then flipped herself lithely to the other side of the deck.
Alston laid a hand on a backstay to sense the huge strain as the standing rigging passed the force of the sails to the hull.