Backstays

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Ropes or wires extending from the top or upper part of a mast toward the stern of a ship to provide structural support
2. Cables or lines running from a mast backward to the rear of a vessel to brace and stabilize the mast against tension
3. Supporting lines stretched from a mast toward the back of a boat to reinforce the mast and prevent it from bending forward

Etymology: "Backstays" is the plural of "backstay," a nautical term for one of the ropes or wire stays that run from the top of a mast down toward the stern of a ship, supporting the mast against forward pressure. The word is a plain compound of "back," meaning rearward, and "stay," the name for a rope or cable that holds a mast or spar in place. Each part keeps its ordinary meaning, so the term describes exactly what the rope does: it stays the mast at the back.

Synonyms: stays, supports