backstay

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noun

A part of the rigging of a sailing ship extending from the top of the mast (masthead) 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.

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Meanings

nounbackstay (plural backstays)

plural backstays

  1. nauticalA part of the rigging of a sailing ship extending from the top of the mast (masthead) 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.
  2. A strengthening or supporting piece that is built into the back of something.

Origin

From back + stay.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian бакщаг
  • бакщаг (bakštag)part of the rigging
Finnish peräharus, takastaagi
  • peräharuspart of the rigging
  • takastaagipart of the rigging
  • hekstaagipart of the rigging
  • hekkipart of the rigging
  • takalepart of a shoe
German Backstag
  • Backstagpart of the rigging
Hungarian achterstág
  • achterstágpart of the rigging
Italian controtirante
  • controtirantepart of the rigging
Māori tukuroa
  • tukuroapart of the rigging
Polish achtersztag, aftersztag
  • achtersztagpart of the rigging
  • aftersztagpart of the rigging
Portuguese brandal
  • brandalpart of the rigging
Cite this entry
APA

backstay. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backstay

MLA

“backstay.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backstay. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “backstay,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backstay.

Source: backstay on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.