To brace the yards in, so as to lay the sails aback.
♦ To brace about, to turn the yards round for the contrary tack, or in consequence of a change of wind.
♦ To brace abox, a manœuvre to insure casting the right way, by bracing the head-yards flat aback (not square).
♦ To brace by, to brace the yards in contrary directions to each other on the different masts, to effect the stopping of the vessel. (See counter-brace, to.)
♦ To brace in, to lay the yard less oblique, as for a free wind, or nearly square.
♦ To brace round, synonymous with brace about.
♦ To brace sharp, to cause the yards to have the smallest possible angle with the keel, for the ship to have head-way: deemed generally to form an angle of 20° with the keel.
♦ To brace to, is to check or ease off the lee braces, and round in the weather ones, to assist in the manœuvre of tacking or wearing.
♦ To brace up, or brace sharp up, to lay the yards more obliquely fore and aft, by easing off the weather-braces and hauling in the lee ones, which enables a ship to lie as close to the wind as possible.