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Webster 1913 Edition

(băk′stāˊ)

Noun.

[

Back

, a. or n. +

stay

(Naut.)

A rope or stay extending from the masthead to the side of a ship, slanting a little aft, to assist the shrouds in supporting the mast.

[Often used in the plural.]

A rope or strap used to prevent excessive forward motion.

backstay ‎(plural backstays)

(nautical) A part of the rigging of a sailing ship extending from masthead the top of the mast to the back of the ship; they support the strain on all upper masts and provide additional support to the shrouds when the wind is abaft the beam.

part of the rigging