backstay

noun

back·​stay ˈbak-ˌstā 

1

: a stay extending aft from a masthead

2

: a strengthening or supporting device at the back (as of a carriage or a shoe)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Ideas that were initially analyzed included easing tension off the backstay cables, which would allow the platform to droop toward the dish a bit, reducing the forces on the cables. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 3 Dec. 2020

At the same time, backstay cables that ran from the tower to the ground came loose and swung around wildly. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 3 Dec. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1