bobstay
/ˈbɒbsteɪ
/noun
A rope used to hold down the bowsprit of a ship and keep it steady.I hung over the side of the pulpit and saw that the bobstay chain was shackled to the end cap on the bowsprit, so I hunted up a wrench and another shackle....
- For the bobstays there should be ten or twelve links to the inch, and for the others considerably more.
- I'm standing on the bobstay trying to get a decent picture of the bow, and not doing a very good job.
Origin
Mid 18th century: probably from bob1 + stay2.