sciatic stay
Nautical. Now historical and rare
noun
A stay running between the heads of the mainmast and foremast on a merchant ship, to which a tackle may be attached in order to load and unload cargo.
- Recorded chiefly in dictionaries and glossarial sources. N.E.D. (1910) remarks: ‘Not known to the English nautical experts consulted.’..
Origin
Late 18th century; earliest use found in David Steel (fl. 1765–1810).