A large strong rope extending from the upper end of each mast towards the stem of the ship, as the shrouds are extended on each side.
The object of both is to prevent the masts from springing, when the ship is pitching deep. Thus stays are fore and aft; those which are led down to the vessel's side are backstays.
♦ The fore-stay is that which reaches from the foremast-head towards the bowsprit end.
♦ The main-stay is that which extends to the ship's stem.
♦ The mizen-stay is that which is stretched to a collar on the main-mast, immediately above the quarter-deck.
♦ The fore-topmast stay is that which comes to the end of the bowsprit, a little beyond the fore-stay, on which the fore-topmast staysail runs on hanks.
♦ The main-topmast stay is attached to the hounds of the fore-mast, or comes on deck.
♦ The mizen-topmast stay is that which comes to the hounds of the main-mast.
The top-gallant, royal, or any other masts, have each a stay, named after their respective masts.
♦ Spring-stay is a kind of substitute nearly parallel to the principal stay, and intended to help the principal stay to support its mast.
♦ Stay of a steamer. An iron bar between the two knees which secure the paddle-beams. (See funnel-stays.)
♦ To stay. To tack, to bring the ship's head up to the wind for going about; hence to miss stays, is to fail in the attempt to go about.
♦ In stays, or hove in stays, is the situation of a vessel when she is staying, or in the act of going about; a vessel in bad trim, or lubberly handled, is sure to be slack in stays, and refuses stays, when she has to wear.