n. 1 guy, line, rope, cable, chain, support, brace, reinforcement; Technical head-stay, (running) backstay, forestay, mainstay, mizen-stay If one of those stays gives way, the entire structure may fall
v. 2 support, strengthen, secure, reinforce, brace, buttress, gird, shore (up) The mast is stayed by two steel cables, fore and aft