Stay n.  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.
 In stays, ∨ 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.
 Tri·at·ic a. Naut. A term used in the phrase triatic stay. See under Stay.
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