▪ I. jib, n.1
(dʒɪb)
Also 7 gibb, 7–8 jibb, 8 gib, jyb.
[Origin uncertain; the name has been only in English.
Possibly an abbreviation of gibbet, with reference to its suspension from the mast-head. Connexion with jib v.2 is also plausible; but the vb. has not as yet been found so early.]
1. a. Naut. A triangular stay-sail stretching from the outer end of the jib-boom to the fore-topmast head in large ships, and from the bowsprit to the mast-head in smaller craft. flying jib, a second sail of similar shape set before the jib on the flying jib-boom (but c 1700–1750 applied to the only jib of large vessels); in some large vessels more jibs, in extreme cases as many as six, are carried, the outermost being the jib of jibs: see quot. 1867.
‘No Tudor ship carried anything in the form of a fore-sail or jib. It was not till long afterwards that any nation adopted them for square-rigged vessels—a fact that is very remarkable, since they were certainly used by small craft at the end of the 16th century.’ (J. Corbett Successors of Drake (1900) 424.) ‘In 1688 jibs were part of the ordinary stores at Woolwich, and must therefore have been used in the large ships before that date.’ (M. Oppenheim.)
| 1661 Inventory Swallow Ketch (S. P. Dom. Chas. II. xxxv. 10. 1), One new Gibb..One ould Gibb. 1694 Acct. Stores sent to Streights Fleet 31 July (Navy Board Lett. XXIX. 834), For preserving the sailes—Jibbs Two, Mizen Tops11 i. 1711 W. Sutherland Shipbuild. Assist. 117 There is another Sail call'd a flying Gib. 1712 E. Cooke Voy. S. Sea 16 Her flying Jyb loose. 1726 G. Roberts 4 Yrs. Voy. 280 My Fore-sail and Jibb were patched out of the Pieces of the Main-Sail. 1750 T. R. Blanckley Naval Expos. 140 Those [sails] which are not bent to the Yards, are, the Flying Jibb, Fore, Fore-top, Main..and Mizon Top-mast Stay Sails. 1794 Rigging & Seamanship I. 83 Before the mast is a foresail, a jib, and a flying jib. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Jib of Jibs, a sixth jib on the bowsprit, only known to flying-kitemen: the sequence being—storm, inner, outer, flying, spindle, jib of jibs. 1878 Masque of Poets 53 The jib swung loose in the sudden gale. |
b. the cut of one's jib (colloq.): one's personal appearance, countenance, or look; see cut n. 16 c.
Orig. a sailor's figure of speech, suggested by the prominence and characteristic form of the jib of a ship.
| 1823–1881 [see cut n. 16 c]. 1824 Scott St. Ronan's i, If she disliked what the sailor calls the cut of their jib. 1853 Lytton My Novel iv. xxiii, Not know an Avenel! We've all the same cut of the jib, have not we, father? 1896 G. Boothby In Strange Comp. ii. iv. 48/1, I like the cut of your jib, or you wouldn't be sitting there opposite me. |
2. dial. The under lip (in phr. to hang the jib). Also, The mouth, face, or nose.
| a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Jib, the under-lip. Of a whimpering child it is said ‘he hangs his jib’. 1852 R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour i. 2 They cock up their jibs and ride along with a ‘find any fault with either me or my horse, if you can’ sort of air. 1865 B. Brierley Irkdale I. 255 (Lancash. dial.) Cock up thy jib, an' let's have another smeawtch, an' then I'se goo whoam. |
3. Comb., as jib-down-haul, a rope used to haul down the jib; jib-guy, a stout rope which supports the jib-boom; jib-halyard, the halyard for raising and lowering the jib; jib-head, an iron fastened to the head of a Jib which has been shortened at the top; jib-headed a., shaped like a jib, said of a topsail; jib-header, a topsail shaped like a jib; jib-iron = jib-traveller; jib-netting, a triangular netting fixed under the jib-boom to hold the jib when temporarily hauled down and to prevent men from falling into the sea while furling, etc. the jib; † jib-sail = jib 1; jib-sheet, one of the ropes by which the jib is trimmed, stretching from its clew to the bows of the ship; jib-stay, the stay on which the jib is set; jib topsail (see quot. 1961); jib-traveller (see quot. 1794).
| 1825 H. B. Gascoigne Nav. Fame 54 While some to Let the anchor go prepare, The slack *Jib-down-haul in the Waste they bear. |
| 1868 Kinglake Crimea (1877) IV. xiii. 390 When the movement of each ship had ceased, the *jib⁓guys of the two were..touching. |
| 1726 G. Roberts 4 Yrs. Voy. 169 So I unreev'd the..Main Haliards, and *Jibb Haliards, and bent them. |
| 1861 Times 16 Aug., The Christabel had a *jib-headed topsail up, and completed her race with much less labour than her rival had done. 1881 Standard 22 June 3/7 All having jibheaded topsails and whole mainsails set. |
| 1899 Daily News 19 July 5/7 The Britannia..substituted a jackyarder for a *jibheader. |
| 1752 Beawes Lex Merc. Rediv. 268 Lying too, with her *Gib Sail hauled to windward and her Mizzen Sail set. 1861 Smiles Engineers II. 36 In this situation the jibsail was blown to pieces. |
| 1825 H. B. Gascoigne Nav. Fame 51 Starboard the helm, the slack *Jib-sheet haul Aft. 1828 M. Scott Tom Cringle xix, In a minute the jibsheet was again hauled over to leeward, and away she was like an arrow, crowding all sail. 1875 Bedford Sailor's Pocket Bk. (ed. 2) iii. 59 If under sail and about to tack, let fly the jib-sheet. |
| 1752 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Ship (Plate), Flying *Jibb Stay and Sails. c 1860 H. Stuart Seaman's Catech. 48 Let go the jibstay. |
| a 1865 Smyth Sailor's Work-Bk. (1867) 411 *Jib topsail. 1866 Capt. Keay Jrnl. in B. Lubbock China Clippers (1914) App. H. p. xxii, Again bent the spare flying-jib for a jib topsail set on fore-royal stay well up. 1892 Rudder Sept. 202 The Princess had her jib topsail hoisted. 1927 G. Bradford Gloss. Sea Terms 92/2 Jib-topsail, a light jib set aloft in a similar manner to other head sails. It is hoisted on the outer of the head stays with its tack well up above the jib-boom instead of being fast to it. 1929 A. J. Villiers Falmouth for Orders 219 There were rumours that the captain intended to bend royal-stays'ls and a jib-tops'l, and a water-sail under the bowsprit. 1936 B. Adams Ships & Women xi. 239 While Pat O'Brien went out to the boom end to furl the jib topsail I stood on the forecastle head. 1961 F. H. Burgess Dict. Sailing 123 Jib topsail, a light triangular sail, set above the jib; it is hanked to the topmast stay and sometimes called ‘jib o' jib’. |
| 1794 Rigging & Seamanship I. 179 The *Jib⁓traveller is a circular iron hoop, with a hook and shackle, used to haul out the tack of the jib. |
▪ II. jib, n.2
(dʒɪb)
Also 8–9 gib.
[app. an abbreviation of gibbet: see gibbet n.1 3.]
The projecting arm of a crane; also applied to the boom of a derrick.
| 1764 Ferguson in Phil. Trans. LIV. 24 This crane..might be built in a room eight feet in width; the gib being placed on the outside of the room. 1804 Naval Chron. XII. 116 Mr. I. Bramah has invented a new jib. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 284 The jib, or gibbet, as it is called, from a resemblance to that machine, is a triangular frame of wood, one side being perpendicular, and supported on pivots at the top and bottom, so that the whole moves round on these as a vertical axis of motion. 1851 Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib. 230 The projection or radius of the jib of these cranes is 32 feet. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech. 688/1 The jib or movable spar of the derrick is hinged to and near the foot of the post, its top being held by a chain which passes over pulleys to a winch on the post, so that the inclination of the jib may be adjusted as required. 1895 Mod. Steam Engine 56 The jib is adjustable at any angle, and the crane is made to hoist, lower and turn round in either direction by steam. |
b. Comb., as jib-beam, jib-pole; jib-crane, a crane fitted with a jib; jib-frame, ‘the upright frame at the sides of a marine-engine, connecting the cylinder, condenser, and the framing’ (Knight Dict. Mech. 1875).
| 1792 Trans. Soc. Arts X. 222 Hung on a pulley, at the end of the gib-beam. 1873 Daily News 17 Sept. 7/1 The stone was lifted up by a jib crane for the purpose of placing the mortar. 1898 Westm. Gaz. 4 July 6/1 A powerful electric travelling jib crane running on a large elevated track controlling the entire length. 1898 Daily News 17 May 2/6 The jib poles did not go against the brick pier. |
▪ III. jib, n.3
(dʒɪb)
[f. jib v.2]
1. A jibbing horse, a jibber.
| 1843 Youatt Horse xv. 317 The mare was a rank jib in single harness. 1851 H. Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 189 (Farmer) Frequently young horses that will not work in cabs—such as jibs—are sold to the horse-slaughterers as useless. 1890 Boldrewood Squatter's Dream iv. 43 Jack was borne off by two jibs and a bolter in the Warroo mail. |
2. The state of being at a standstill.
| 1893 G. D. Leslie Lett. to Marco xx. 134 My picture is at present in a state of jib, owing to a child's head in it which I cannot get right. |
▪ IV. jib, n.4 slang.
(dʒɪb)
Also gib, jibb.
[Origin unknown.]
A first-year student at Trinity College, Dublin.
Unknown to the present generation of TCD students (1973).
| 1827 in J. E. Walsh Trinity College in 19th Cent. (1901) 21 About a hundred young jibbs..forced the gates and sallied out into the streets. 1839 C. J. Lever Confessions H. Lorrequer xiii. 99 During all this melée tournament, I perceived that the worthy jib as he would be called in the parlance of Trinity, Mr. Cudmore, remained perfectly silent. 1902 W. M. Dixon Trinity College, Dublin vi. 137 It was a proud thing for a ‘gib’ to present himself to a crowd round the door, hear many a cry, ‘Make way for the gentleman of the College!’ 1922 Joyce Ulysses 160 And the Trinity jibs in their mortarboards. |
▪ V. jib, v.1 Naut.
(dʒɪb)
Also 7 gib, 9 gibb, jibb: see also gybe.
[Etymology obscure; the same sense is expressed by Da. gibbe, Sw. dial. gippa; cf. also Du. gijpen, Ger. giepen, prob. from a LG. original. But, as in gybe v., the phonetic change of (g) to (dʒ) is unexplained.]
1. trans. To pull (a sail or yard) round from one side of the vessel to the other, as in tacking, etc.
| 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 126 The place and fitting of the Shrowd so as to make way for the gibbing of the Yards. 1776 Cook 2nd Voy. ii. iii. (1842) I. 426 In changing tacks, they have only occasion to shift or jib round the sail. 1834 M. Scott Cruise Midge (1863) 15 It could be hooked and unhooked, as need were, when she tacked and it became necessary to jib the sail. 1865 Examiner 18 Mar. 163 A movement of the boys when the boat was jibbing her sail may have upset her. |
2. intr. Of a sail, etc.: To shift or swing round from one side of a vessel to the other; = gybe v. i.
| 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. ii, The Boom gibbed over the Top of the Cabin. 1804 Naval Chron. XI. 169 The sail gibbed, the boat upset. 1831 E. J. Trelawny Adv. Younger Son II. 199, I saw the Boston schooner's main-sail jib. |
b. transf. Of other things: To swing round.
| 1891 Daily News 23 July 7/2 The arm of the crane could swing round, or gibb, on each side, and deliver the stone on a truck. |
▪ VI. jib, v.2
Also jibb, rarely gib.
[A recent word of uncertain derivation: not in Todd 1818, Webster 1828, or Craig 1847. Thought by Forby (a 1825) to be transf. from the jibbing of a sail, and so to be identical with jib v.1 But this is very doubtful.
Jib has a curious resemblance to OF. and mod. dial. F. giber to kick, sometimes said of horses; whence regiber (mod.F. regimber), early ME. regibben in Ancr. R., to kick as a wanton beast; but it is not possible to connect jib historically with these words.]
1. intr. Of a horse or other animal in harness: To stop and refuse to go on; to move restively backwards or sideways instead of going on; to balk stubbornly.
| 1811 Jane Austen Lett. (1884) II. 95 The horses actually gibbed on this side of Hyde Park Gate. 1816 Scott Antiq. ii, Miss Grizie Oldbuck was sometimes apt to jibb when he pulled the reins too tight. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Jib, to start suddenly and violently aside, generally from the collar; and to refuse to draw or go forward. It is said of a horse metaphorically from the jibbing of a sail. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey vi. ii, The horses have jibbed, and will not stir. 1845 Ford Handbk. Spain i. 48 In the best regulated teams it must happen that some one will occasionally start, gib, and bolt. |
2. transf. and fig. a. To stop short in some action; to refuse to proceed or advance; to draw back, back out.
| 1812 Sporting Mag. XXXIX. 139 Nanny jibbed a bit in the twelfth round. 1827 Scott Jrnl. 16 Mar., I had settled to finish the review, when, behold..I jibb'd. 1845 Empson Let. in Corr. M. Napier, Many Whigs, however, will jib, from fear of their constituents. 1894 Sir E. Sullivan Woman 110 When there is no compulsion there is no gibbing. |
b. To start aside; to shy at.
| 1882 T. A. Guthrie Vice Versa vi. 123 The boys taking the parts of ladies jibbing away from their partners in a highly unlady-like fashion. 1896 Ouida Massarenes xv, There are people who jib at you still, you know: when once you were one of us, they wouldn't dare. |
Hence jibbing vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1844 Alb. Smith Adv. Mr. Ledbury xlii. (1886) 130 The playful vagaries of jibbing horses. 1861 G. F. Berkeley Sportsm. W. Prairies xv. 247 A succession of jibbings and rearings. 1862 G. J. Whyte-Melville Ins. Bar x. (ed. 12) 363 A backward swain is like a jibbing horse. |
▪ VII. jib, v.3 Sc.
trans. To fleece; to strip; to milk closely, drain to the dregs. Hence jibbings, the last strainings of milk from a cow; afterings.
| 1728 Ramsay Vision viii, Our trechour peirs thair tyranns treit, Quha jyb them, and thair substance eit. 1824 Mactaggart Gallovidian Encycl., Jibb, to milk closely. Jibbings, the last milk that can be drawn out of a cow's udder. 1828 Carlyle Let. in Froude Life (1882) II. ii. 27 Jane the lesser..furnishes butter and afterings (jibbings) for tea. |