Downhaul—A rope for hauling down a sail.

Clewline—A line used to draw together a sail so that it can be easily furled.

Halyards—The tackles by which a sail is hoisted.

Guys—Are ropes used to support or control a spar, and are either permanent or shifting. On spars they generally act in opposition to the sheet.

Topping lift—A rope or tackle for lifting and holding up the end of a boom.

Sheet—The rope or tackle by which a sail is controlled or trimmed. It is made fast to the clew of the sail, or to the boom.

Shrouds—Ropes generally of wire employed to support a mast or bowsprit by holding it sideways. They are attached to the rail by chain plates, and are set up with either lanyards or rigging screws.

Stays—Ropes used to support or control a spar in a fore-and-aft direction.

Luff—The fore edge of a sail.

Leach—The after edge of a sail.

Head—The upper edge of a sail.

Foot—The lower edge of a sail.

Peak—The upper outer corner of a triangular sail, also the upper corner of a jib or gaff topsail. In this book the more common name head is used. See sail plans.

Throat—The upper fore corner of a triangular sail, also called the nock.

Tack—The lower fore corner of a sail.

Clew—The after lower corner of a sail.