Tack

tak, n. a short, sharp nail with a broad head: a fastening, a long temporary stitch: the weather clew or foremost lower corner of any of the courses, or of any sail set with a boom or gaff, or of a flag, also the rope by which such clew or tack is confined or fastened: the course of a ship in reference to the position of her sails: a determinate course, the art of tacking, hence a change of policy, a strategical move: a shelf for drying cheese: term of a lease: adhesivene , sticky condition, as of varnish, .— v.t. to attach or fasten, esp. in a slight manner, as by tacks.— v.i. to change the course or tack of a ship by shifting the position of the sails: to shift one's position, to veer.— adj. Tack′y , adhesive, viscous. [Most prob. Celt., Ir. taca , a pin, Bret. tach , a nail.]