backstay (baksta)

1. In printing, a strap of leather used to check the carriage of a printing-pre .-2. In coal - mining, a forked bar of wrought-iron attached to the back of the mine-car when ascending an inclined plane, for the purpose of stopping the car in case of accident. [Yorkshire, Eng.] -3. A rod extending from the perch to the outer end of the rear axle of a carriage.-4. One of the flaps of a carriage-top.-5. In purchase-shears, a powerful spring placed at the back of the moving blade to keep the two cutting edges in contact. - 6. In metal - turning, an adjustable support for any very long or slender article.-7. pl. Naut., long ropes extending backward from the heads of all masts above the lower mast and fastened IMG:content-1530.png:[blocks in formation] The mind can backward cast Upon herself her understanding light. Sir J. Davies, Introd. to Immortal. of Soul. on each side of the ship to the chain-plates, 5. In or by reflection; reflexively. serving to support the masts. - Backstay-stools, planking or pieces of iron projecting from the side of a ship, to which the backstays are made fast. They serve the same purpose for the backstays that the channels do for the shrouds.- Traveling backstays, backstays fitted with a traveler which slides up and down with the topsail-yard. The principal support for the mast is thus kept at that part which is just above the yard. [Not now in use.]