a. Naut. [Origin obscure; app. f. TRI- three.] In triatic stay: see quots.
1841. Dana, Seaman’s Man., Triatic Stay, a rope secured at each end to the heads of the fore and main masts, with thimbles spliced into its bight, to hook the stay tackles to.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk. [as in Dana, with this addition]. This term applies also to the jumper-stay, extending in schooners from the mainmast-head to the foremost-head, clearing the end of the fore gaff.
1895. Funk’s Stand. Dict., s.v., Triatic stay (Naut.), a device consisting of two pendants attached respectively to the foremast-head and mainmast-head, and having thimbles spliced to the other ends, to which the third part, or span, is attached, as are also the stay-tackles; used principally for hoisting boats in and out of a vessel.
