Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Stay \Stay\, n. [AS. st[ae]g, akin to D., G., Icel., Sw., & Dan.
   stag; cf. OF. estai, F. ['e]tai, of Teutonic origin.] (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}, or {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.