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Glite Dictionary
backstay

backstay

1 9.6
A cable behind a mast or tower that holds it upright
  • noun
  • /ˈbækˌsteɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : stay trasero
  • A fully battened triangular sail, attached with hanks to the backstay, hoisted with a spare main halyard, and sheeted forward.

Examples

  • He's fouled in the backstay.

    Captains Courageous (1937)

  • All of our sailing yachts have been equipped with some form of riding sail, either mizzen or "backstaysail" (a sail attached to the backstay on a single-sticker).

    Blog text (28)

  • The crew adjusted the backstay to provide better support for the mast during the storm.

  • Before the race, the sailor checked the backstay to ensure it was secure and properly tensioned.

  • In the wind, the backstay helped stabilize the mast and keep the sailboat on course.

Synonyms

rigging
vsbackstay
  • Specialized
26 6.3

Ropes and cables on a ship that hold the masts and control the sails

is a single support element behind the mast rather than the whole system
mainstay
vsbackstay
  • Specialized
9.0

A strong rope that supports the ship's main mast

supports the mast from behind rather than along the fore-and-aft line
headstay
vsbackstay
  • Specialized
9.9

A strong rope from a boat's front to the mast top that supports the mast and holds the front sail

supports the mast from behind rather than from the front

How Supportive

strut
  • Specialized
11 7.4
brace
85 4.0
backstay
  • Specialized
1 9.6
rope
614 1.0
cord
176 1.0

Surface Forms

backstay singular
backstays plural

Morphology

backstay = back + stay (transparent) = back + stay

Meaning is directly the 'stay' located at the 'back' of the mast or structure; components map clearly to the nautical sense.

Etymology

Backstay comes from back ('behind') and stay (a strong rope or support, 'to hold in place'). So a backstay is the rope or rod that holds a mast or other structure from the back to keep it steady.