Middle English Dictionary Entry
stai n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | stai n.(1) Also staie, stei(e; pl. staies, stei(e)s, steien, sties. |
| Etymology | OE stæg; cp. OI stag & AF estai. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Naut. A large rope used to secure the mast of a ship; ~ nail, a nail used to secure a stay; ~ of thre cordes, a tripartite rope; ~ pin, a kind of belaying pin; bak ~ [see also bak n. 10.(f)]; fore ~, q.v.; main ~, a mainstay.
Associated quotations
- (1294-6) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1163 : In vna petra ferri yspannie ad Staynail faciendum, iiij d.
- (c1295) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 38 : In cordis que dicuntur Upteyen, Heuedropes, Steyes, Gerdingges, Yerdropes, Leftingges, Stetingges, Hanekes, Hauceres, Baksteyen, Towrop', [etc.].
- (1296) Newcastle Galley in Archaeol.Ael.4.2186 : j Stay, ij Schetes, ij Huppeteyes, j Boye.
- (1307-8) *Acc.Exch.K.R.14/14 [OD col.] : In ij hupteghes, vj couplis de hauedropes et ij Steyes..pro masta dicte Bargie..xxviij s.
- (1336-7) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 3138 : In xxx petris cord' de canabo..emptis..pro tribus steyes..xij d.
- (1342-3) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 3143 : j mast..ij Bakstaues, j Stay de iij cordis, j Bowspret.
- (1347-50) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 3100 : En deux haches vn hamer..En la ffesur dun vide et vn steyepyn, vj d.
- (1358-9) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 3150 : De xxviij heuedrop., x vptiegh., vj baksteys, viij steys, iiij twysts.
- (1398) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.96 : [John..hoisted the sail of the boat, in doing which a rope called] le staye [broke].
- (1404-6) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 395 : De Cord' pro shroudes, vptyes, shetes, stayes, halyers, et lollers.
- (1421) *For.Acc.(PRO) 8 Hen.V D/2 [OD col.] : v peciis de ropes pro styes, j Couple Bakstyes, ij hailers, ij vpties.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2944 : The gabelis that in a ship of werre Bere vp the sail herwith may be fordone; So may the stay & shroudis euerychone.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57367 : I payd at Kales fore a kabel and a stey fore my lytel schepe..xxx s.
- (1485) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 268 : Mayne Stayes j, Mayne tyes ij, [etc.].
- a1500 Our shyp (Dub 516)41 : The mast hath a wel le good stay, With shrowthes sure, y dare wel say.