Naut. Also 7 breace. [ad. F. brasser (also brasseyer), of same meaning; or f. BRACE sb.3] trans. To move or turn (a sail) by means of braces. Hence, with various adverbs and prepositions, as brace aback, to drow (the yards) in, so as to lay the sails aback; brace about, abox (see quots.); brace by, to brace (the yards) in contrary directions on the different masts; brace in, to lay (the yards) less obliquely athwart-ships; brace round = brace about; brace sharp (see quot.); brace to, to ease the lee- and draw in (the weather-braces) so as to assist in tacking; brace up, to put the yards) into a more oblique position. Also absol. in prec. uses.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. ii. 16. Breace the Fore-sail and Fore-top-sail to the Mast.
1675. Lond. Gaz., No. 3073/3. He Braced to and fell a-stern.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., II. 908. Brace the foremost yards aback. Ibid. (1769), Dict. Marine (1789), Brasser sous le vent, to brace to leeward, or brace-up the yards.
1832. Marryat, N. Forster, xi. The yards [were] braced by.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxii. 66. Her yards were braced sharp up.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 127. To brace about, to turn the yards round for the contrary tack. To brace abox, a manœuvre to insure casting the right way, by bracing the head-yards flat aback (not square). To brace sharp, to cause the yards to have the smallest possible angle with the keel, for the ship to have head-way.
b. transf. (humorous.)
1834. M. Scott, Cruise Midge (1863), 34. We braced up sharp round a right-angled corner of our pestiferous path.
