Shroud

On a sailboat, the shrouds are pieces of standing rigging which hold the mast up from side to side. There are frequently more than one shroud on each side of the boat. Usually a shroud will connect at the top of the mast, and then additional shrouds might connect partway down the mast, depending on the design of the boat. All shrouds then terminate their bottom end to the side of the boat. Shrouds are attached symetrically on both the port and starboard sides. For those shrouds which attach high up the mast, a spreader can be used to increase the angle the shroud makes with the mast at the attachment point, providing more support to the mast.

Contrast with forestay and backstay.