jib-boom
Definition
Noun: A "jib-boom" is a spar (a long, strong pole) extending forward from the bow of a sailing ship, used to extend the foot of the jib sail further out for better sailing performance.
Usage Examples
- (A long pole at the front of the ship used to hold a triangular sail.)
- (The forward-extending spar broke due to weather conditions.)
Advanced Usage
- "to rig the jib-boom": to set up or repair the jib-boom on a sailing vessel.
- The sailors had to rig the jib-boom quickly as the wind picked up. (They installed the spar for sail attachment.)
- "jib-boom and flying jib-boom": a compound arrangement where a second, longer spar extends beyond the first jib-boom, supporting additional sails.
- The ship's rigging included both a jib-boom and a flying jib-boom for maximum sail area. (Two spars in sequence to extend sails further.)
Variants and Related Words
- Jib (n): a triangular sail set forward of the foremast, often attached to the jib-boom.
- The jib flapped noisily in the breeze. (The triangular sail at the front.)
- Boom (n): a long spar used to extend the foot of a sail, but generally attached to a mast, not the bow.
- The mainsail boom swung across the deck. (A horizontal spar for a sail.)
Synonyms
- Bowsprit extension: a technical term for a spar that extends the bowsprit, of which the jib-boom is a specific type.
- Forward spar: a general term for any pole at the front of a ship.
Phrasal Verbs
- Jib-boom out: to extend the jib-boom outward from the ship's bow.
- The captain ordered the crew to jib-boom out the spar for the upcoming race. (To deploy the jib-boom.)
Related Idioms
- "Between the jib-boom and the mizzenmast": an old nautical phrase meaning "throughout the entire ship" or "from front to back."
- The inspection covered everything between the jib-boom and the mizzenmast. (The entire vessel was examined.)