adv. Obs. Naut. [A prep.1 on, and BACK-STAYS.] Having the more important sails hauled round so as to lie in the plane of the wind’s direction, and thus to present no surface to it. (Done when a square-rigged vessel is sailing in a wind more or less astern, and it is desired to stop or slacken her speed temporarily; or in lying ‘hove to.’ The stays or stay-ropes lie permanently in this plane, whence the sail was said to be abackstays, now backed.)
1628. Sir K. Digby, Voyage into Medit., 75 (1868). I, lying with my foresaile abackestayes, could not fill time enough to stretch out a head of her till shee was gott abord me vpon the bowe.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), A Braue Sea-fight, Wks. III. 39/2. The James got betweene one of their fleet, and singled her out, lying by her sides with foresaile and foretopsaile abackstayes, so neere as a man might quoit a Bisket cake into her.
1694. Lond. Gaz., mmdcccclxxviii. 1. Captain Teissere remained a back stays several hours.
