backstay

noun

back·​stay ˈbak-ˌstā How to pronounce backstay (audio)
1
: a stay extending aft from a masthead
2
: a strengthening or supporting device at the back (as of a carriage or a shoe)

Examples of backstay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Ideas that were initially analyzed included easing tension off the backstay cables, which would allow the platform to droop toward the dish a bit, reducing the forces on the cables. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 3 Dec. 2020 At the same time, backstay cables that ran from the tower to the ground came loose and swung around wildly. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 3 Dec. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of backstay was in 1626

Dictionary Entries Near backstay

Cite this Entry

“Backstay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backstay. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

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