Aloft rigging.
It is called estay (pl. "estayes" or "estais"), in the rigging or rigging of a ship propelled by sail, to any type of metallic nerve designed to hold a pole in vertical position or laterally hold the bowsprit. Modernly, these nerves are called, depending on their position with respect to the stick, stayes (forward) and baquestayes or coarse (aft). The stakes that hold the pole laterally, are called shrouds and shrouds, depending on their length (major and minor, respectively); the latter can incorporate arrows. These rigging elements are commonly referred to as standing or standing rigging, since they are not usually adjustable (except for the baquety on contemporary racing yachts and the full rigging of the sail skate).
The word "estay" comes from the ancient flamenco staye, which means 'support', hence its use in nautical, as the rope that holds the foot of a topmast.
The term remains almost unchanged in both Latin languages (French étai, Portuguese estai) and Germanic languages (English stays, Swedish stag).
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