noun

jib

jihb

noun

A triangular sail set at the front of a sailboat, ahead of the mainmast.

"She hauled in the jib as the wind picked up."

"A well-trimmed jib helps the boat point closer to the wind."

The long arm of a crane that extends outward to lift or move loads.

"The jib of the construction crane swung the steel beam into place."

How to Use Jib

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a small sail at the bow of a boat, or the projecting arm of a crane.

Common pairings

hoist the jib crane jib jib sail

jibbed past tense, jibbed past tense, jibs plural, jibs plural, jibs plural, jibs plural, jibs plural, jibs singular, jibs singular

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She hauled in the _____ as the wind picked up.

First recorded in the 1660s; the exact origin is unclear.