jib

1
[ jib ]
/ dʒɪb /

noun Nautical.

any of various triangular sails set forward of a forestaysail or fore-topmast staysail. Compare flying jib, inner jib.
the inner one of two such sails, set inward from a flying jib.

adjective

of or relating to a jib: jib clew.

Idioms for jib

    cut of one's jib, one's general appearance, mien, or manner: I could tell by the cut of his jib that he wasn't the kind of person I'd want to deal with.

Origin of jib

1
First recorded in 1655–65; origin uncertain

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH jib

gibe gybe jib jibe jive

Words nearby jib

jiao, jiaozhou, jiaozhou bay, jiaozuo, jiayi, jib, jib boom, jib crane, jib-headed, jibaro, jibba

British Dictionary definitions for cut of one's jib (1 of 4)

jib 1
/ (dʒɪb) /

noun

nautical any triangular sail set forward of the foremast of a vessel
cut of someone's jib someone's manner, behaviour, style, etc
obsolete
  1. the lower lip, usually when it protrudes forwards in a grimace
  2. the face or nose

Word Origin for jib

C17: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for cut of one's jib (2 of 4)

jib 2
/ (dʒɪb) /

verb jibs, jibbing or jibbed (intr) mainly British

(often foll by at) to be reluctant (to); hold back (from); balk (at)
(of an animal) to stop short and refuse to go forwards the horse jibbed at the jump
nautical variant of gybe

Derived forms of jib

jibber, noun

Word Origin for jib

C19: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for cut of one's jib (3 of 4)

jib 3
/ (dʒɪb) /

noun

the projecting arm of a crane or the boom of a derrick, esp one that is pivoted to enable it to be raised or lowered

Word Origin for jib

C18: probably based on gibbet

British Dictionary definitions for cut of one's jib (4 of 4)

jib 4
/ (dʒɪb) /

noun

(often plural) South Wales dialect a contortion of the face; a face stop making jibs

Word Origin for jib

special use of jib 1 (in the sense: lower lip, face)

Idioms and Phrases with cut of one's jib (1 of 2)

cut of one's jib

One's general appearance or personality, as in I don't like the cut of Ben's jib. In the 17th century the shape of the jib sail often identified a vessel's nationality, and hence whether it was hostile or friendly. The term was being used figuratively by the early 1800s, often to express like or dislike for someone.

Idioms and Phrases with cut of one's jib (2 of 2)

jib

see cut of one's jib