Marconi rig

noun

Mar·​co·​ni rig mär-ˈkō-nē- How to pronounce Marconi rig (audio)
: a fore-and-aft rig in which the sails are triangular and are not supported by gaffs

Word History

Etymology

probably from the resemblance of the complex arrangement of stays and struts to that used to support the antennae used in wireless telegraphy, invented by Guglielmo Marconi

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Marconi rig was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near Marconi rig

Cite this Entry

“Marconi rig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Marconi%20rig. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!