† ˈforestam Obs.
Also 4 forestayne, 5 forstanyg (? read forstavyng), 5 forestaven.
[f. fore- prefix + ME. stam, staven, OE. stæfn prow (see stem).]
1. The prow of a ship.
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 742 Frekes one þe forestayne, fakene þeire coblez. c 1470 Henry Wallace ix. 55 Frekis in forstame [v.r. foirstam, forstarne] rewllit weill thar ger. c 1475 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 804 Hec prora, a forstanyg. ? c 1475 Sqr. lowe Degre 822 in Ritson Met. Rom. III. 179 With eighty ores at the fore staven. 1513 Douglas æneis v. iii. 78 Fra thair foirstammys the buller brayis and raris. |
2. Sc. The front, forehead.
| 1790 Shirrefs Poems Gloss. 15 Forestum [sic], the fore⁓head. a 1809 in Skinner's Misc. Poet. 132 His enemy..Raught him a rap on the forestam. |