forestay

F4O1R1E1S1T1A1Y4

noun

A stay that extends from the top of the foremast to the bow or bowsprit of a sailing ship

Similar
headstay
OriginMiddle English forstay →
RareScrabble 14
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Meanings

forestay1

nounforestay (plural forestays)

plural forestays · alternative forstay

  1. nauticalA stay that extends from the top of the foremast to the bow or bowsprit of a sailing ship

    Synonyms: headstay

verbforestay (third-person singular simple present forestays, present participle forestaying, simple past and past participle forestayed)

present singular third person forestays · participle present forestaying · participle past forestayed · past forestayed · alternative forstay

  1. transitiveTo stay beforehand; secure or fasten with or as with a forestay.

    Anna decided not to press that subject and forestayed her mind to change tack.

    2008, Alfred Fox, Anna's Story: Basset Mead

forestay2

verbforestay (third-person singular simple present forestays, present participle forestaying, simple past and past participle forestayed)

present singular third person forestays · participle present forestaying · participle past forestayed · past forestayed · alternative forstay

  1. transitiveTo stay, delay, postpone, or hinder beforehand; forestall; prevent.

    It is reasonable to suppose that further research into the complex bio-chemistry of the blood will result in more satisfactory substitutes for plasma than are now available and thereby death may be more easily forestayed.

    1954, Osteopathic Magazine - Volumes 41-42 - Page 75
    1 more example

    [...] in our capital construction plan, we might not plan the manufacture of equipment according to storage, thus delaying the sale of our manufactured equipment and forestaying return on investment by equipment manufacturing agencies.

    1965, United States Joint Publications Research Service, Translations on People's Republic of China

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA stay that extends from the top of the foremast to the bow or bowsprit of a sailing ship

Similar
headstay
Also see
behedgefrustrateheadstayhinderhurtincommodeinhibitkick the can down the roadlimitpostponeprocrastinateroll backtarrythwart

Origin

forestay · noun, verb

  1. Middle Englishforstay
  2. Englishforestay

From Middle English forstay, forstey, vorstey, equivalent to fore- + stay (“a stay, rope”).

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

forestay · verb

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*preh₂-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*pr̥h₂éy
  4. Proto-Germanic*furai
  5. Proto-Germanic*furai-
  6. Proto-West Germanic*forē-
  7. Old Englishfore-
  8. Middle Englishfore-
  9. Englishfore-
  10. Englishstay
  11. Englishforestay

From fore- + stay (“to hold off, postpone, delay”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish keulaharus, etustaagi
  • keulaharusstay that extends from the top of the foremast
  • etustaagistay that extends from the top of the foremast
  • etuharusstay that extends from the top of the foremast
Hebrew סָמוֹךְ קִדְמִי
  • סָמוֹךְ קִדְמִי (samokh kidmi)stay that extends from the top of the foremast
Hungarian forstág
  • forstágstay that extends from the top of the foremast
Māori tamawhakaara
  • tamawhakaarastay that extends from the top of the foremast
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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