noun
outrigger
OWT-rig-er/ˈaʊtrɪɡər/
A projecting support that stabilizes a boat or vehicle.
The boat's outrigger extends sideways to help keep the hull stable.
Etymology
Outligger meant a spar projecting from a vessel. That outward projection remains central to the modern support: it extends beyond the boat or vehicle to help stabilize it.
In context
The initial step is East Asian ancestry and these people who invented outrigger canoe technology and long-distance sailing.
More examples
- The crane operator lowers the outriggers before lifting the load.
- Each outrigger rests on a firm pad beside the truck.
- We rent an outrigger for a paddle around the bay.
Forms
outrigger · outriggers
Similar words
- stabilizer
- A broader term for any device that improves stability.
- brace
- Reinforces a structure without necessarily projecting outward for balance.