·noun A rope or strap used to prevent excessive forward motion.
II. Backstay ·noun A rope or stay extending from the masthead to the side of a ship, slanting a little aft, to assist the shrouds in supporting the mast.
Used to support the backstays. ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
Detached small channels, or chain-wales, fixed abaft the principal ones. They are introduced in pref...