rigging
n. uncountable C2 Proficiency US //ˈɹɪɡɪŋ// UK //ɹˈɪɡɪŋ// rig·ging
n. the system of ropes, chains, and wires that hold up a ship's masts and control its sails.
n. the collective system of ropes, cables, and chains used on a ship to support masts and manage sails.
The sailors climbed the rigging to fix the sail.
Strong winds during the storm caused significant damage to the ship's rigging, making it difficult to steer.
Traditional tall ships require a complex network of standing and running rigging, each line serving a specific mechanical purpose in maintaining the vessel's structural integrity and propulsion.
From Middle English riggyng, ryggyng, riggynge, equivalent to rig + -ing.
From rig + -ing.
Usage
Typically functions as a collective noun; rarely used in the plural form.