jibe

Jibe is a term with several related but distinct meanings. In nautical usage, a jibe refers to a sailing maneuver in which a boat turns its stern through the wind, causing the boom to swing from one side of the vessel to the other. This typically occurs when sailing downwind or on a broad reach and is used to change course or to align the sails with the wind. A controlled jibe involves careful sail trim, steering, and crew coordination to prevent an accidental, often rapid, boom swing which can damage gear or injure crew. Variants such as a hard jibe and a soft jibe describe the speed and aggressiveness of the motion, and heavier weather may require particular attention to rigging and reefing.

In general usage, jibe means to be in agreement with or to accord with something, as in the phrase “the theory jibes with the data.” The spelling gibe is a historical or variant form that can denote a taunt or jeer; some writers distinguish the taunt sense from the sense of agreement, though overlap exists in modern usage. The word jibe is also the standard American spelling for the sailing maneuver, while gybe is a widely accepted alternative spelling in other contexts, especially in British naval writing.