backstay

1
[ bak-stey ]
/ ˈbækˌsteɪ /

noun

Machinery. a supporting or checking piece in a mechanism.
Building Trades. an anchored tension member, as a cable, permanently or temporarily supporting a compression member, as a tower or pole, subject to a pull above its base from the opposite direction.
a strip of leather at the back of a shoe used for reinforcement and sometimes to connect the quarters.

Origin of backstay

1
First recorded in 1860–65; back1 + stay2

Definition for backstay (2 of 2)

backstay 2
[ bak-stey ]
/ ˈbækˌsteɪ /

noun

Nautical. any of various shrouds forming part of a vessel's standing rigging and leading aft from masts above a lower mast to the sides or stern of the vessel in order to reinforce the masts against forward pull.

Origin of backstay

2
First recorded in 1620–30; back1 + stay3

Example sentences from the Web for backstay

British Dictionary definitions for backstay

backstay
/ (ˈbækˌsteɪ) /

noun

nautical a stay leading aft from the upper part of a mast to the deck or stern
machinery a supporting piece or arresting part
anything that supports or strengthens the back of something, such as leather covering the back seam of a shoe