Meaning

(nautical) A triangular staysail set forward of the foremast. In a sloop (see image) the basic jib reaches back roughly to the level of the mast..

Definitions by Sense

1. (nautical) A triangular staysail set forward of the foremast. In a sloop (see image) the basic jib reaches back roughly to the level of the mast.
2. (nautical, usually with a modifier) Any of a variety of specialty triangular staysails set forward of the foremast.
3. (chiefly nautical) To shift, or swing around, as a sail, boom, yard, etc., as in tacking.
4. The projecting arm of a crane.
5. (metonymic, cinematography, film) A crane used for mounting and moving a video camera.
6. An object that is used for performing tricks while skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, in-line skating, or biking. These objects are usually found in a terrain park or skate park.
7. (slang) A person's face.
8. To stop and refuse to go forward (usually of a horse).

Example Sentences

Release the line by pulling down and unfurl the jib by pulling on the two jibsheets.

Whipping around I saw Herman with a stunned expression on his jib.

“Who calls, who calls?” cried Essper; a shout was the only answer. There was no path, but the underwood was low, and Vivian took his horse, an old forester, across it with ease. Essper’s jibbed.

Then he got fever, and had to be carried in a hammock slung under a pole. As he weighed sixteen stone I had no end of rows with the carriers. They jibbed, ran away, sneaked off with their loads in the night—quite a mutiny.

The lama jibbed at the open door of a crowded third-class carriage. ‘Were it not better to walk?’ said he weakly.

"Where are we going?" she asked, jibbing capriciously in the descent.

“Juno has a kindly gait. She neither jibs nor shies, though she will take a fence no more. […]”

“What say you to the young lady herself?” said Craigengelt; “the finest young woman in all Scotland, one that you used to be so fond of when she was cross, and now she consents to have you, and gives up her engagement with Ravenswood, you are for jibbing. I must say, the devil’s in ye, when ye neither know what you would have nor what you would want.”

Word Forms

• jibs
• jibe
• jibbing
• jibbed
• gib

Synonyms for jib

Related Words

When Should You Use Jib?

Use jib when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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