tack 1
— tacker , n. — tackless , adj.
/tak/ , n.
1. a short, sharp-pointed nail, usually with a flat, broad head.
2. Naut.
a. a rope for extending the lower forward corner of a course.
b. the lower forward corner of a course or fore-and-aft sail. See diag. under sail .
c. the heading of a sailing vessel, when sailing close-hauled, with reference to the wind direction.
d. a course run obliquely against the wind.
e. one of the series of straight runs that make up the zigzag course of a ship proceeding to windward.
3. a course of action or conduct, esp. one differing from some preceding or other course.
4. one of the movements of a zigzag course on land.
5. a stitch, esp. a long stitch used in fastening seams, preparatory to a more thorough sewing.
6. a fastening, esp. of a temporary kind.
7. stickiness, as of nearly dry paint or glue or of a printing ink or gummed tape; adhesiveness.
8. the gear used in equipping a horse, including saddle, bridle, martingale, etc.
9. on the wrong tack , under a misapprehension; in error; astray: His line of questioning began on the wrong tack.
v.t.
10. to fasten by a tack or tacks: to tack a rug to the floor.
11. to secure by some slight or temporary fastening.
12. to join together; unite; combine.
13. to attach as something supplementary; append; annex (often fol. by on or onto ).
14. Naut.
a. to change the course of (a sailing vessel) to the opposite tack.
b. to navigate (a sailing vessel) by a series of tacks.
15. to equip (a horse) with tack.
v.i.
16. Naut.
a. to change the course of a sailing vessel by bringing the head into the wind and then causing it to fall off on the other side: He ordered us to tack at once.
b. (of a sailing vessel) to change course in this way.
c. to proceed to windward by a series of courses as close to the wind as the vessel will sail.
17. to take or follow a zigzag course or route.
18. to change one's course of action, conduct, ideas, etc.
19. to equip a horse with tack (usually fol. by up ): Please tack up quickly.
[ 1300-50; (n.) ME tak buckle, clasp, nail (later, tack); c. G Zacke prong, D tak twig; (v.) ME tacken to attach, deriv. of the n.; see TACHE, ATTACH ]
Syn. 13. affix, fasten, add.
tack 2
/tak/ , n.
food; fare.
[ 1740-50; orig. uncert. ]
tack 3
/tak/ , n. Scot. and North Eng.
1. a lease, esp. on farmland.
2. a rented pasture.
3. a catch, haul, or take of fish.
[ 1250-1300; ME tak tak goods, seizure, grasp. See TAKE ]