Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To stop short and turn restively from side to side; balk.
  • intransitive verb To perform tricks by jumping onto and maneuvering over fixed obstacles such as railings or platforms. Used especially of snowboarders and skiers.
  • noun Nautical A triangular sail stretching from the foretopmast head to the jib boom, the bowsprit, or the bow.
  • noun The arm of a mechanical crane.
  • noun The boom of a derrick.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Same as jibe.
  • noun Nautical, adjective large triangular sail set on a stay forward of the foremast.
  • To pull against the bit, as a horse; move restively sidewise or backward.
  • noun Same as jibber.
  • noun The boom of a derrick; the inclined strut in a derrick, which can be swung in a vertical as well as a horizontal plane.
  • noun The projecting arm of a crane: same as gib, 5.
  • noun A stand for beer-barrels.
  • noun The under lip.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb engraving To move restively backward or sidewise, -- said of a horse; to balk.
  • noun (Naut.) A triangular sail set upon a stay or halyard extending from the foremast or fore-topmast to the bowsprit or the jib boom. Large vessels often carry several jibs
  • noun (Mach.) The projecting arm of a crane, from which the load is suspended.
  • noun One that jibs, or balks; a jibber.
  • noun A stationary condition; a standstill.
  • noun (Naut.) a spar or boom which serves as an extension of the bowsprit. It is sometimes extended by another spar called the flying jib boom
  • noun (Mach.) a crane having a horizontal jib on which a trolley moves, bearing the load.
  • noun (Arch.) a door made flush with the wall, without dressings or moldings; a disguised door.
  • noun (Naut.) a gaff-topsail, shaped like a jib; a jib-headed topsail.
  • noun (Naut.) a small jib set above and outside of all the other jibs.
  • noun [Colloq.] one's outward appearance.
  • (Chiefly Naut.) To shift, or swing round, as a sail, boom, yard, etc., as in tacking.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Of a horse, to stop and refuse to go forward.
  • verb figuratively To stop doing something, to become reluctant to proceed with an activity.
  • noun nautical A triangular staysail set forward of the foremast. In a sloop (see image) the basic jib reaches back roughly to the level of the mast.
  • noun nautical Usually with a modifier, any of a variety of specialty triangular staysails set forward of the foremast.
  • noun The projecting arm of a crane
  • noun A crane used for mounting and moving a video camera
  • noun An object that is used for performing tricks while skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, inline skating, or biking. These objects are usually found in a terrain park or skate park.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb shift from one side of the ship to the other
  • verb refuse to comply
  • noun any triangular fore-and-aft sail (set forward of the foremast)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Origin unknown.]

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Origin unknown.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Of uncertain origin.

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Examples

  • Our man Shane is the guy you see with what we call the jib camera.

    CNN Transcript Sep 24, 2004 2004

  • She opened in the panelling one of the old-fashioned concealed modes of exit known as jib-doors, which it was once the custom to construct without architraves in the walls of large apartments, so as not to interfere with the general design of the room.

    The Hand of Ethelberta 2006

  • She opened in the panelling one of the old-fashioned concealed modes of exit known as jib-doors, which it was once the custom to construct without architraves in the walls of large apartments, so as not to interfere with the general design of the room.

    The Hand of Ethelberta Thomas Hardy 1884

  • This exercise should be repeated until releasing casting off and trimming the jib is a smooth and coordinated effort on the part of the crew at helmsman.

    Sailing Fundamentals Gary Jobson 1998

  • This exercise should be repeated until releasing casting off and trimming the jib is a smooth and coordinated effort on the part of the crew at helmsman.

    Sailing Fundamentals Gary Jobson 1998

  • Imám Abu Hanífa says they are wájib, that is ordered by God.

    The Faith of Islam Edward Sell

  • I need not tell you all this is in strict confidence; and if the plan does not jib, which is not very probable, will bring lots of grist to the mill.

    Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, December 25, 1841 Various

  • To lay out on the long bowsprit and put a single reef in the jib was a slight task compared with what had been already accomplished; so a few moments later they were again in the cockpit.

    Chapter X 1902

  • To lay out on the long bowsprit and put a single reef in the jib was a slight task compared with what had been already accomplished; so a few moments later they were again in the cockpit.

    The Cruise of the "Dazzler" 1902

  • Seems the organizers like the cut of my "immoderate moderator" jib, which is deeply flattering and rewarding as I always have a lot of fun doing it.

    Uninstalled 2009

Comments

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  • Another WeirdNet definition...

    Whenever I hear/read this word I think of Rowan Atkinson saying "I like the cut of your jib, young fellow me lad!"

    November 13, 2007

  • also a kind of sail.

    October 11, 2008

  • apparently, it's slang for meth

    June 30, 2013