Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

backstay

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.35 in modern English

Syllables
back-stay
IPA
19
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A part of the rigging of a sailing ship extending from the top of the mast (masthead) to the back of the ship; they support the strain on all upper masts and provide additional support to the shrouds when the wind is abaft the beam.

noun

A strengthening or supporting piece that is built into the back of something.

Etymology

From back + stay.

Inflected Forms

backstays (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

forestay

Questions

What does backstay mean?
A part of the rigging of a sailing ship extending from the top of the mast (masthead) to the back of the ship; they support the strain on all upper masts and provide additional support to the shrouds when the wind is abaft the beam.
Where does backstay come from?
From back + stay.

How to pronounce backstay

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “backstay”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “backstay”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “backstay” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.