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Tackle vs Tack - What's the difference?

tackle | tack |

In nautical terms the difference between tackle and tack

is that tackle is a system of ropes and blocks used to increase the force applied to the free end of the rope while tack is to maneuver a sailing vessel so that its bow turns through the wind, i.e. the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other.

tackle

English

Noun

  • (nautical) A system of ropes and blocks used to increase the force applied to the free end of the rope.
  • (fishing, uncountable) Equipment (rod, reel, line, lure, etc.) used when angling.
  • (uncountable, informal) By extension, any piece of equipment, particularly gadgetry.
  • * 2004 June 24–30, "Jeff Gordon Never Gets Tired Of Seeing Face On Cheap Plastic Crap", '', available in ''Embedded in America , ISBN 1400054567, page 193,
    • ... an illuminated license-plate frame bearing his likeness, signature, and yellow number 24. "That there's a real nice piece of tackle . ..."
  • (sports, countable) A play where a player attempts to take control over the ball from an opponent, as in rugby or football.
  • (American football, countable) A play where a defender brings the ball carrier to the ground.
  • (countable) Any instance in which one person forces another to the ground.
  • (American football, uncountable) The offensive positions between each guard and end, offensive tackle.
  • (American football, countable) A person playing that position.
  • (American football, uncountable) The defensive positions between two ends, defensive tackle.
  • (American football, countable) A person playing that position.
  • (slang) A man's genitalia.

    • Derived terms

    * grapple tackle * spear tackle

    Verb

  • to face or deal with attempting to overcome or fight down
    • The government's measures to tackle crime were insufficient.
  • (sports) to attempt to take away a ball
  • (American football) to bring a ball carrier to the ground

    • tack

    English

    Etymology 1

    From , probably from a (etyl) source.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small nail with a flat head.
  • * 2012 , July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track
    • A tough test for even the strongest climber, it was new to the Tour de France this year, but its debut will be remembered for the wrong reasons after one of those spectators scattered carpet tacks on the road and induced around 30 punctures among the group of riders including Bradley Wiggins, the Tour's overall leader, and his chief rivals.
  • A thumbtack.
  • (sewing) A loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth.
  • (nautical) The lower corner on the leading edge of a sail relative to the direction of the wind.
  • (nautical) A course or heading that enables a sailing vessel to head upwind. See also reach, gybe.
  • A direction or course of action, especially a new one.
  • * 1994 , Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom , Abacus 2010, p. 637:
    • I thought that my refusing Barnard would alienate Botha, and decided that such a tack was too risky.
  • (nautical) The maneuver by which a sailing vessel turns its bow through the wind so that the wind changes from one side to the other.
  • (nautical) The distance a sailing vessel runs between these maneuvers when working to windward; a board.
  • (nautical) A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses when the vessel is close-hauled; also, a rope employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail to the boom.
  • Any of the various equipment and accessories worn by horses in the course of their use as domesticated animals. Saddles, stirrups, bridles, halters, reins, bits, harnesses, martingales, and breastplates are all forms of horse tack .
  • (manufacturing, construction, chemistry) The stickiness of a compound, related to its cohesive and adhesive properties.
    • The laminate adhesive has very aggressive tack and is hard to move once in place.
  • Hardtack.
  • * 1913 , D. H. Lawrence, "Sons and Lovers":
    • "But if a woman's got nothing but her fair fame to feed on, why, it's thin tack , and a donkey would die of it!"
  • That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix.
  • * Bishop Burnet
    • Some tacks had been made to money bills in King Charles's time.
    (Macaulay)
  • (legal, Scotland) A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease.
    • (Burrill)
  • (obsolete) Confidence; reliance.
    • (Halliwell)
    Synonyms
    * (nautical maneuver) coming about
    Hyponyms
    * (nail-like object for affixing thin things) thumbtack
    Derived terms
    * Blu-Tack * hardtack * thumbtack

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To nail with a tack (small nail with a flat head).
  • To sew/stich with a tack (loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth).
  • (nautical) To maneuver a sailing vessel so that its bow turns through the wind, i.e. the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other.
  • To add something as an extra item.
    • to tack (something) onto (something)
  • Often paired with "up", to place the tack on a horse.
    • Synonyms
    * to change tack
    Antonyms
    * to wear

    Related terms

    * tacky

    See also

    * * Blu-Tack

    Etymology 2

    From an old or dialectal form of (etyl) tache. See techy.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A stain; a tache.
  • (obsolete) A peculiar flavour or taint.
    • (Drayton)
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