In sailing, to shift a fore-and-aft sail from one side of a ship to the other while sailing with the wind behind you.
From Dutch gijpen or German giben, terms from maritime Dutch traders and sailors. The nautical term entered English in the 17th century during the age of European sailing exploration and trade.
Gybing is one of the trickiest sailing maneuvers because the sail swings suddenly across the deck with explosive force—experienced sailors say a poorly executed gybe is how you end up with a broken boom or knocked overboard, which is why it's taught as a serious skill.
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