outrigger

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Nautical A projecting beam or spar run out from the side of a vessel to help in securing the masts or from a mast to be used in extending a rope or sail.
2. n. Nautical A long thin float attached parallel to a seagoing canoe by projecting spars as a means of preventing it from capsizing.
3. n. Nautical A vessel fitted with such a float or beam.
4. n. Nautical A support for an oarlock projecting from the side of a racing shell.
5. n. Nautical A racing shell fitted with such a support.
6. n. A projecting frame extending laterally beyond the main structure of a vehicle, aircraft, or machine to stabilize the structure or support an extending part.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Nautical: A spar rigged out from a ship's top or crosstrees, to spread the breast-backstays.
2. n. Any boom rigged out from a ship's side to hang boats by.
3. n. A heavy spar or strong beam of wood placed across a ship's deck, lashed securely to both sides of the ship, and having tackles from its projecting ends to the masthead, to assist in securing the mast while the ship is hove down.
4. n. Any spar thrust out to help to give a lead to a purchase or to extend a sail.
5. n. An iron bracket fixed to the outside of a boat and carrying a rowlock at its extremity, designed to increase the leverage of the oar.
6. n. Hence A light boat provided with such apparatus.
7. n. A frame rigged out from the side of canoes in the islands of the Indian and Pacific oceans, to form a counterpoise and prevent the boat from upsetting. Such outriggers are sometimes placed on both sides of the boat, sometimes only on one side. They generally consist of two spars, rigged out one from each end of the canoe, with a canoe-shaped block of wood or bamboo connecting their outer ends.
8. n. In machinery: A pulley or wheel extended outside of the general frame of a machine.
9. n. The jib of a crane, or a joist projecting from a building to support a hoisting-tackle.
10. n. See the quotation.
11. n. A frame used on a farm wagon, to enable it to carry larger loads, as of hay.

Wiktionary

1. n. nautical any of various projecting beams that provide support for a mast or, fitted with a float, provide support for a canoe
2. n. nautical an outrigger canoe
3. n. an extention mechanism, often retractable when not in use, on a boat, vehicle, or structure which helps stabilize the boat, vehicle, or structure to keep it from tipping over

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Any spar or projecting timber run out for temporary use, as from a ship's mast, to hold a rope or a sail extended, or from a building, to support hoisting teckle.
2. n. A projecting support for a rowlock, extended from the side of a boat.
3. n. A boat thus equipped.
4. n. A projecting contrivance at the side of a boat to prevent upsetting, as projecting spars with a log at the end; also used attributively, as an outrigger canoe.
5. n. (Aeronautics) A projecting frame used to support the elevator or tail planes, etc.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a stabilizer for a canoe; spars attach to a shaped log or float parallel to the hull