forestay
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forestay¹
Where it comes from
From Middle English forstay, forstey, vorstey, equivalent to fore- + stay (“a stay, rope”).
noun forestays · forstay
- A stay that extends from the top of the foremast to the bow or bowsprit of a sailing ship
verb forestays · forestaying · forestayed · forstay
- To stay beforehand; secure or fasten with or as with a forestay. Anna decided not to press that subject and forestayed her mind to change tack.
forestay²
Where it comes from
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *per-
Proto-Indo-European *preh₂-der.
Proto-Indo-European *pr̥h₂éy
Proto-Germanic *furai
Proto-Germanic *furai-
Proto-West Germanic *forē-
Old English fore-
Middle English fore-
English fore-
English stay
English forestay
From fore- + stay (“to hold off, postpone, delay”).
verb forestays · forestaying · forestayed · forstay
- To stay, delay, postpone, or hinder beforehand; forestall; prevent. It is reasonable to suppose that further research into the complex bio-chemistry of the blood will result in more satisfactory substitutes for plasma than are now available and thereby death may be more easily forestayed.
