gybe
/d͡ʒaɪb/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.32 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To shift a fore-and-aft sail from one side of a sailing vessel to the other, while sailing before the wind.
Transitive verb
verb
Of a fore-and-aft sail or its boom: to shift, often forcefully and suddenly, from one side of a sailing vessel to the other.
Intransitive verb
verb
Generally of a small sailing vessel: to change tack with the wind crossing behind the vessel.
Intransitive verb
verb
Often as gybe at: to balk, hesitate, or vacillate when faced with a course of action, plan, or proposal.
Obsolete
noun
A sudden change in approach or direction; vacillation.
noun
Alternative spelling of jibe (“taunt”).
Example Sentences
- "[…] I had my Man Friday to teach as to what belong'd to the Navigation of my Boat; for though he knew very well how to paddle a Canoe, he knew nothing what belong'd to a Sail and a Rudder, and was the moſt amaz'd when he ſaw me work the Boat too and again in the Sea by the Rudder, and how the Sail gyb'd, and fill'd this Way or that Way, as the Courſe we ſail'd chang'd: […]"
- "The key to a good gybe is to bring the spinnaker round to the old weather side before you begin, and then to steer to keep some wind in the kite."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: gijben, gijb
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /d͡ʒaɪb/
- British English: /d͡ʒaɪb/