1. a rope or chain extending from the bowsprit of a ship down to the stem, used to hold the bowsprit steady
Usage: nautical

Examples

• The sailor checked the tension on the bobstay before setting sail.
• A broken bobstay could cause the bowsprit to shift dangerously.
• The crew replaced the worn bobstay with a new steel cable.
• Ice had formed on the bobstay during the cold night at sea.
• The ship’s bobstay was made of heavy chain rather than rope.