tacking

Definition

In sailing, the maneuver where your boat performs an elaborate dance through the wind like it's auditioning for a nautical ballet—the bow swings through the breeze, switching sides faster than you can say 'jibe!' In sewing, it's the practice of temporarily holding fabric pieces together with loose stitches before committing to the real seams.

Example Usage

The skipper yelled 'Ready about, hard-a-lee!' before tacking the sailboat into the harbor.

Source: Maritime and nautical terminology

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