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 (?), 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, 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"er (?), n. One who tacks.
Tack"et (?), n. [Dim. of tack a small nail.] A small, broad-headed
nail. [Scot.] Jamieson.
Tack"ey (?), a. & n. See Tacky.
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.
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.
Tac"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tackled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tackling.]
[Cf. LG. takeln to equip. See Tackle, n.] 1. To supply with tackle.
Beau. & Fl.
2. To fasten or attach, as with a tackle; to harness; as, to tackle a
horse into a coach or wagon. [Colloq.]
3. To seize; to lay hold of; to grapple; as, a wrestler tackles his
antagonist; a dog tackles the game.
The greatest poetess of our day has wasted her time and strength in
tackling windmills under conditions the most fitted to insure her
defeat.
Dublin Univ. Mag.
Tac"kled (?), a. Made of ropes tacked together.
My man shall be with thee, And bring thee cords made like a tackled
stair.
Shak.
Tac"kling, n. (Naut.) 1. Furniture of the masts and yards of a vessel,
as cordage, sails, etc.