Wiktionary
forechain
n. (context nautical mostly plural English) A chain securing the lower shrouds of the foremast.
Usage examples of "forechain".
Blood could see the glinting of the brass cannons mounted on the prow above the curving beak-head, and he could make out the figure of a seaman in the forechains on her larboard side, leaning out to heave the lead.
They did not: they were far too busy with their sailcloth and with painting the white band on the ship's windward side, at least aft of the forechains, by leaning perilously out of the gunports.