tacking

v. affix with a tack; append, add as an attachment; change course, alter one's direction (especially in a sailing vessel); sew together temporarily

Tack is a term used in sailing that has different meanings in different contexts.
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Noun
1. loose temporary stitches
(synonym) baste, basting
(hypernym) stitch
2. (nautical) the act of changing tack
(synonym) tack
(hypernym) change of course
(derivation) tack, wear round
(classification) seafaring, navigation, sailing

Noun
1. the heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails
(hypernym) bearing, heading, aim
(derivation) wear round
2. a short nail with a sharp point and a large head
(hypernym) nail
(hyponym) carpet tack
3. gear for a horse
(synonym) stable gear, saddlery
(hypernym) gear, paraphernalia, appurtenances
(hyponym) bit
4. (nautical) a line (rope or chain) that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind
(synonym) sheet, mainsheet, weather sheet, shroud
(hypernym) line
(hyponym) futtock shroud
(part-holonym) ship
(derivation) wear round
(classification) seafaring, navigation, sailing
5. (nautical) the act of changing tack
(synonym) tacking
(hypernym) change of course
(derivation) interchange, switch, alternate, flip, flip-flop
(classification) seafaring, navigation, sailing
6. sailing a zigzag course
(hypernym) sailing
Verb
1. fasten with tacks; "tack the notice on the board"
(hypernym) fasten, fix, secure
(hyponym) thumbtack
(see-also) append, tag on, tack on, hang on
2. turn into the wind; "The sailors decided to tack the boat"; "The boat tacked"
(synonym) wear round
(hypernym) sail
(derivation) sheet, mainsheet, weather sheet, shroud
(classification) boat
3. make by putting pieces together; "She pieced a quilt"; "He tacked together some verses"
(synonym) assemble, piece, put together, set up, tack together
(hypernym) join, bring together
(hyponym) confect, confection, comfit
4. sew together loosely, with large stitches; "baste a hem"
(synonym) baste
(hypernym) sew, run up, sew together, stitch
(derivation) baster, tacker
5. fix to; attach; "append a charm to the necklace"
(synonym) append, tag on, tack on, hang on
(hypernym) attach
(hyponym) subjoin
6. reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
(synonym) interchange, switch, alternate, flip, flip-flop
(hypernym) change by reversal, turn, reverse
(derivation) tacking

(p. pr. & vb. n.)
of Tack
  

(n.)
A union of securities given at different times, all of which must be redeemed before an intermediate purchaser can interpose his claim.
  

Engl. law. The union of securities given at different times, so as to prevent any intermediate purchasers claiming title to redeem, or otherwise discharge one lien, which is prior, without redeeming or discharging other liens also, which are subsequent to his own title.

It is an established doctrine in the English chancery that a bona fide purchaser and without any notice of a defect in his title at the time of the purchase, may lawfully buy any statute, mortgage, or encumbrance, and if he can defend by those at law, his adversary shall have no help in equity to set those encumbrances aside, for equity will not disarm such a purchaser. And as mortgagees are considered in equity as purchasers pro tanto, the same doctrine has extended to them, and a mortgagee who has advanced his money without notice of any prior encumbrance, may, by getting an assignment of a statute, judgment, or recognizance, protect himself from any encumbrance subsequent to such statute, judgment or recognizance, though prior to his mortgage; that is, he will be allowed to tack or unite his mortgage to such old security, and will by that means be entitled to recover all moneys for which such security was given, together with the money due on his mortgage, before the prior. mortgagees are entitled to recover anything.

This doctrine is inconsistent with the laws of the several states, which require the recording of mortgages.

The doctrine of tacking seems to have been acknowledged in the civil law. But this tacking could not take place to the injury of intermediate encumbrancers.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.