ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English forstay, forestay, from for-, fore- fore- + stay
: a support in front or directed to the front ; specifically : a stay from the foremast head to the deck of a ship which supports the foremast in a fore-and-aft direction and to which the forestaysail is secured by hanks — see ship illustration