gybe

Etymology 1

Probably from Dutch gijben (obsolete), gijpen; cognate with Danish gibbe, German gieben, giepen, Swedish gipa, gippa. The noun is derived from the verb; compare Dutch gijb (obsolete), gijp (“act of gybing; a boom”).

verb

1. (transitive, nautical) To shift a fore-and-aft sail from one side of a sailing vessel to the other, while sailing before the wind.
2. (intransitive, nautical) Of a fore-and-aft sail or its boom: to shift, often forcefully and suddenly, from one side of a sailing vessel to the other.
3. (intransitive, nautical) Generally of a small sailing vessel: to change tack with the wind crossing behind the vessel.
4. (by extension, obsolete) Often as gybe at: to balk, hesitate, or vacillate when faced with a course of action, plan, or proposal.

noun

1. (nautical) The act of gybing.
   1. A sudden shift of a sail's angle, or a sudden change in the direction that a vessel is sailing in.
   2. A manoeuvre in which the stern of a sailing vessel crosses the wind, typically resulting in the forceful and sudden sweep of the boom from one side of the vessel to the other.
      The key to a good gybe is to bring the spinnaker round to the old weather side before you begin, and then to steer to keep some wind in the kite. 2014, Tim Davison, “Symmetric Spinnakers”, in Skipper’s Cockpit Racing Guide: For Dinghies, Keelboats and Yachts, London: Adlard Coles Nautical, page 24
2. (by extension) A sudden change in approach or direction; vacillation.

Etymology 2

See jibe.

noun

1. Alternative spelling of jibe (“taunt”)

verb

1. Alternative spelling of jibe (“taunt”)