Naut. Obs. In 5 forstage. [f. FORE- pref. + STAGE.] = FORECASTLE 1; hence a ship with a forecastle. Also, ship of forestage, forestage ship.
134S[?]. [MS. (? of this date) is cited by J. Bree, Cursory Sketch (1791), 110, for ‘ships of forstage.’]
1462. Paston Lett., No. 443, II. 94. Thei sey, there shulde come in to Seyne CC. gret forstages owt of Spayne, from the Kyng there.
c. 1465. Eng. Chron. (Camden, 1856), 84–5. That the seyde lord Ryuers shulde kepe certeyne grete forstage shyppys, that were the erles of Warrewyk, the whiche lay at ankere there in the hauene.
1481. Caxton, Orat. G. Flamineus, F iij b. Gayus Flammineus Publius a man of grete worship, had take vpon hym the charge of youre nauye and shyppes, And had delyuerd to my gouernaunce ten shippis of forstage for to fyght ageyn one of the rouers called Horantes.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Fore-stage. The old name for forecastle.
