from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Stay \Stay\ (st[=a]), n. [AS. staeg, akin to D., G., Icel., Sw.,
& Dan. stag; cf. OF. estai, F. ['e]tai, of Teutonic origin.]
(Naut.)
A large, strong rope, employed to support a mast, by being
extended from the head of one mast down to some other, or to
some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called
fore-and-aft stays; those which lead to the vessel's side are
called backstays. See Illust. of {Ship}.
[1913 Webster]
{In stays}, or {Hove in stays} (Naut.), in the act or
situation of staying, or going about from one tack to
another. --R. H. Dana, Jr.
{Stay holes} (Naut.), openings in the edge of a staysail
through which the hanks pass which join it to the stay.
{Stay tackle} (Naut.), a tackle attached to a stay and used
for hoisting or lowering heavy articles over the side.
{To miss stays} (Naut.), to fail in the attempt to go about.
--Totten.
{Triatic stay} (Naut.), a rope secured at the ends to the
heads of the foremast and mainmast with thimbles spliced
to its bight into which the stay tackles hook.
[1913 Webster]