backstayn.
/ˈbaksteɪ/, U.S. /ˈbækˌsteɪ/ 1. Nautical (often plural). 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 adv., astays adv.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > masts, rigging, or sails > rigging > [noun] > fixed rigging > stay > specific
head ropec1295
fore-stay1373
mainstay1485
sheep's feet1530
forehand1609
backstay1626
jib-stay1752
bobstay1759
breast backstay1769
sciatic stay1794
fore-topgallant-stay1805
funnel-stays1846
belly-stay-
1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 29 The ships at stayes, at backe-stayes.
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. ix. 42 He will lay her by the lee; the staies, or backe staies, that is, when all the sailes..are not kept full..they fall vpon the masts and shrowds, so that the ship goes a drift vpon her broad side.
1709 London Gaz. No. 4521/2 Our Shrouds and Back-stays cut to pieces.
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xvi. 263 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.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > a support at the back
backstay1846
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > parts of cart or carriage > [noun] > support and fittings to resist action of draught
wheel-iron1829
backstay1879
stay-enda1884
1846 C. Holtzapffel Turning & Mech. Manip. 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 Notes & Queries V. 313 England's shield, ally, and backstay Is the Scandia whence she issued.
1879 Carriage Build. in Cassell's Techn. Educator IV. 175/2 The wheel-iron, bed-clip, and back-stay being in one.
1911 Act 1 & 2 George V c. 50 §46 A back-stay or other suitable contrivance for preventing the tub running back.
3. local. = backster n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > shoe or boot > boards fastened to foot > [noun]
glib-board1682
mud-patten1791
mud board1824
backstay1830
splasher1859
backster1867
mud-splasher1880
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.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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