Stays : During the operation of tacking, the moment when a sailing vessel is head to the wind and hanging there, with her head not paying off on the opposite tack. Such a vessel is said to be "in stays" or "in irons"
Brethrencoast, Glossary of Nautical Terms - Talk like a pirate, Sylvan Dell Publishing, USA 2000. Brethren of the Coast is a non-profit site which was created solely for those interested in 'Piracy of Old' on the high seas. It is NOT associated with any organization or reinactment group by the same name. This just me personal website on the subject. http://brethrencoast.com/Glossary.html, (Mrtm - Amer) {574}