Tack , v. i. (Naut.) To change the direction of a vessel by shifting the position of the helm and
sails; also (as said of a vessel), to have her direction changed through
the shifting of the helm and sails. See Tack, v. t., 4.
Monk, . . . when he wanted his ship to tack to larboard, moved the mirth of his
crew by calling out, "Wheel to the
left."
Macaulay.
Tack (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tacked (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Tacking.]
[Cf. OD.
tacken to touch, take, seize, fix, akin to E. take. See Tack a small nail.]
1. To fasten or attach. "In hopes of getting some commendam tacked
to their sees." Swift.
And
tacks the center to the sphere.
Herbert.
2. Especially, to attach or
secure in a
slight or hasty manner, as by stitching or nailing; as, to tack together the sheets of a book; to tack one piece of cloth to another; to tack on a board or shingle; to tack one piece of metal to another by drops of solder.
3. In parliamentary usage, to add (a supplement) to a bill; to append; -- often with on or to.
Macaulay.
4. (Naut.) To change the
direction of (a vessel) when sailing closehauled, by putting the helm alee and
shifting the tacks and sails so that she will
proceed to windward nearly at right angles to her
former course.
&fist; In tacking, a vessel is brought to point at first directly to windward, and then so that the wind
will blow against the other side.
Tack , n. [OE.
tak, takke, a fastening; akin to D. tak a
branch, twig, G. zacke a twig, prong, spike, Dan. takke a tack, spike;
cf. also Sw. tagg prickle, point, Icel. tāg a willow twig, Ir. taca a peg, nail, fastening, Gael.
tacaid, Armor. & Corn.
tach; perhaps akin to E. take. Cf. Attach,
Attack, Detach, Tag an end, Zigzag.]
1. A small, short, sharp-pointed nail, usually having a broad, flat head.
2. That which is
attached; a supplement; an appendix. See Tack, v. t., 3.
Macaulay.
Some tacks
had been made to money
bills in King Charles's time.
Bp. Burnet.
3. (Naut.) (a)
A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses when the vessel is closehauled (see
Illust. of Ship);
also, a rope
employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail to the boom. (b)
The part of a sail to which the
tack is usually fastened; the foremost lower corner of fore-and-aft sails, as of
schooners (see Illust. of
Sail). (c) The direction of a vessel in regard to the
trim of her
sails; as, the starboard tack, or port tack; -- the former when she is closehauled with the wind on her starboard side; hence, the run of a vessel on one tack; also, a change of direction.
4. (Scots Law) A contract by
which the use of a thing is set,
or let, for
hire; a lease. Burrill.
5.
Confidence; reliance. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Tack of a flag (Naut.), a line spliced into the eye
at the foot
of the hoist for securing the flag to the halyards. -- Tack
pins (Naut.), belaying pins; -- also
called jack pins. -- To haul the
tacks aboard (Naut.), to set the
courses. -- To hold tack, to last or hold
out. Milton.
Tack (?), n. [From an old or dialectal form of F. tache. See Techy.]
1. A stain; a tache. [Obs.]
2. [Cf. L. tactus.] A peculiar flavor or taint; as,
a musty tack. [Obs. or Colloq.]
Drayton.
Hear it pronounced