rigging

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Nautical The system of ropes, chains, and tackle used to support and control the masts, sails, and yards of a sailing vessel.
2. n. The supporting material for construction work.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A ridge, as of a house; also, a roof.
2. n. The ropes, chains, etc., which are employed to support and work all masts, yards, sails, etc., in a ship; tackle. Rigging is of two kinds: standing rigging, or rigging set up permanently, as shrouds, stays, backstays, etc.; and running rigging, which comprises all the ropes hauled upon to brace yards, make and take in sail, etc., such as braces, sheets, clue-lines, buntlines, and halyards. See cut under ship.

Wiktionary

1. n. nautical The system of ropes, chains, and tackle used to support and control the masts, sails, and yards of a ship
2. n. Similar supporting material for construction work
3. v. present participle of rig.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Dress; tackle; especially (Naut.), the ropes, chains, etc., that support the masts and spars of a vessel, and serve as purchases for adjusting the sails, etc. See Illustr. of ship and sails.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. formation of masts, spars, sails, etc., on a vessel
2. n. gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails