† abackstays, adv. Obs. Naut.
(əˈbæksteɪz)
[a prep.1 on, and back-stays.]
Having the more important sails hauled round so as to lie in the plane of the wind's direction, and thus to present no surface to it. (Done when a square-rigged vessel is sailing in a wind more or less astern, and it is desired to stop or slacken her speed temporarily; or in lying ‘hove to.’ The stays or stay-ropes lie permanently in this plane, whence the sail was said to be abackstays, now backed.)
| 1628 Sir K. Digby Voyage into Medit. 75 (1868) I, lying with my foresaile abackestayes, could not fill time enough to stretch out a head of her till shee was gott abord me vpon the bowe. 1630 J. Taylor (Water P.) A Braue Sea-fight Wks. iii. 39/2 The James got betweene one of their fleet, and singled her out, lying by her sides with foresaile and foretopsaile abackstayes, so neere as a man might quoit a Bisket cake into her. 1694 Lond. Gaz. mmdcccclxxviii. 1 Captain Teissere remained a back stays several hours. |