Naut.; also 7 brase. [a. F. bras (de vergue) of same meaning (lit. ‘arm’); assimilated to BRACE sb.2 It is less probable that Fr. bras in this sense is an adaptation of the Eng. word, which would then be a special application of BRACE sb.2 II.] A rope attached to the yard of a vessel for the purpose of ‘trimming’ the sail.
1626. Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Seamen, 28. Ease your mayne brases.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II. note. The lee-brace confines the yard so that the tack will not come down to its place.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, v. 10. We were obliged to steady the booms and yards by guys and braces.
b. attrib., as in brace-block, -man, -pendant.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 49. Brace men attend their braces.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 127. Brace pendants are lengths of rope, or … chain, into which the yard-arm brace-blocks are spliced.
