backstay
(ˈbæksteɪ)
[f. back a. or n.]
1. Naut. (often pl.) Long ropes, slanting a little abaft, extending from the upper mast-heads to both sides or to the ‘channels’ of the ship, where they are fastened to backstay-plates; they serve to second the shrouds in supporting the masts under a press of sail. backstay-stools: small ‘channels’ fixed abaft the principal ones for receiving the backstays. Cf. abackstays, astays.
| 1626 Capt. Smith Accid. Yng. Seamen 29 The ships at stayes, at backe-stayes. 1627 ― Seaman's Gram. ix. 42 He will lay her by the lee, the staies, or backestaies, that is, when all the sailes..are not kept full..they fall upon the masts and shrowds, so that the ship goes a drift upon her broad side. 1709 Lond. Gaz. No. 4521/2 Our Shrouds and Back-stays cut to pieces. 1833 Marryat P. Simple (1863) 115 The captain of the maintop reports the breast backstay much chafed. |
2. gen. A stay or support at the back; e.g. in Printing, a leather strap used to check the carriage of a printing-press.
| 1846 Holtzapffel Turning II. 634 In cutting very long screws..the object becomes so slender, that the contrivance called a backstay, is always required for supporting the work. 1864 Stephens in N. & Q. V. 313 England's shield, ally, and backstay Is the Scandia whence she issued. 1879 Carriage Build. in Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 175/2 The wheel-iron, bed-clip, and back-stay being in one. 1911 Act 1 & 2 Geo. V c. 50 §46 A back-stay or other suitable contrivance for preventing the tub running back. |
3. local. = backster.
| 1830 United Service Jrnl. Mar. 359 How would he like walking over three miles of heavy shingle [at Dungeness] in..a pair of back stays..? 1889 H. W. Lucy in Time Mar. 257 What the ‘backstay’ is to the inhabitant of the district around Lydd, the stilts are to the lonely dwellers in the Landes. 1901 Pall Mall Gaz. 27 May 6/1 The bird lovers..follow the local fishermen's example, and wear ‘back-stays’—boards, about eight inches long and five inches wide, fastened on to the boots. |