[f. FORE- pref.]

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  1.  Naut. A stay or strong rope reaching from the foremast-head towards the bowsprit end.

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1373.  Indenture, in Riley, Lond. Mem. (1868), 369. 3 forstiez, and 2 couples of backstiez.

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1626.  Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Seamen, 14. The tacklings are the fore stay, the maine stay.

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1630.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Navy Landships, Wks. I. 81/1. Contrary to any other ship, she had neither Forestay or Backstay, for the wind laye in her will, and if shee pleas’d to sayle any whither, there was no command had power to stop her, or Cable and Ankers strength to hold her.

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1748.  Anson’s Voy., I. viii. 82. We learnt that they had broke their fore-stay and the gammon of the bowsprit, and were in no small danger of having all their masts come by the board.

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  b.  A sail hoisted on the fore-stay; in full fore-stay-sail.

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1742.  Woodroofe, in Hanway, Trav. (1762), I. II. xxiii. 100. With great difficulty we wore the ship with the foresail and forestaysail, and cleared the breakers.

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1762.  Falconer, Shipwr., II. 189.

        The mizzen draws; she springs aloof once more,
While the fore stay-sail balances before.

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1875.  Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket-bk., vi. (ed. 2), 214. The jib is the forestay; a fid if the foresail be set first the mast-head is dragged aft, and the after leech hangs slack.

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  2.  (See quot. 1888).

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1833.  J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, II. 208. Supported by C, the standard or forestay, are two grooved rods, called the ribs.

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1888.  Jacobi, Printer’s Vocab., Forestay of press.—The leg which supports the frame or ribs of a hand-press.

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