brace by
C1 formal transitive
In simple words
In sailing, to turn the sails so they line up nearly with the length of the ship, letting the wind slip past them.
Literal meaning: To brace (angle) the yards so the wind passes by them rather than filling them.
Meanings
1 C1 formal
(Nautical) To position the yards nearly in line with the ship's keel so the wind passes by the sails without filling them.
"The sailing master ordered them to brace by to reduce speed as they approached the shallow waters."
Usage notes
A highly specialized nautical command used in square-rigged sailing. Not encountered outside of maritime literature, history, or specialist sailing contexts.
Commonly used with
yards keel wind sails ship
Forms
Base
brace by
I/you/we/they
3rd person
braces by
he/she/it
Past simple
braced by
yesterday
Past participle
braced by
have + pp
-ing form
bracing by
continuous
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