Tack
(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.
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
(Tack), v. i. (Naut.) To change the direction of a vessel by shifting the position of the helm and
sails; also 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. Tacker
(Tack"er) n. One who tacks.
Tacket
(Tack"et) n. [Dim. of tack a small nail.] A small, broad-headed nail. [Scot.] Jamieson.
Tackey
(Tack"ey) a. & n. See Tacky.
Tacking
(Tack"ing), n. (Law) A union of securities given at different times, all of which must be redeemed
before an intermediate purchaser can interpose his claim. Bouvier.
The doctrine of tacking is not recognized in American law. Kent.
Tackle
(Tac"kle) (?; sometimes improperly pronounced ?, especially by seamen), n. [OE. takel, akin to
LG. & D. takel, Dan. takkel, Sw. tackel; perhaps akin to E. taw, v.t., or to take.]
1. Apparatus for raising or lowering heavy weights, consisting of a rope and pulley blocks; sometimes,
the rope and attachments, as distinct from the block.
2. Any instruments of action; an apparatus by which an object is moved or operated; gear; as, fishing
tackle, hunting tackle; formerly, specifically, weapons. "She to her tackle fell." Hudibras.
In Chaucer, it denotes usually an arrow or arrows.
3. (Naut.) The rigging and apparatus of a ship; also, any purchase where more than one block is used.
Fall and tackle. See the Note under Pulley. — Fishing tackle. See under Fishing, a. — Ground
tackle (Naut.), anchors, cables, etc. — Gun tackle, the apparatus or appliances for hauling cannon
in or out. — Tackle fall, the rope, or rather the end of the rope, of a tackle, to which the power is
applied. — Tack tackle (Naut.), a small tackle to pull down the tacks of the principal sails. — Tackle
board, Tackle post (Ropemaking), a board, frame, or post, at the end of a ropewalk, for supporting
the spindels, or whirls, for twisting the yarns.
