2644: The Cut of His Jib Mar 14, 2022

The phrase "the cut of one's jib" is a strange one, because few people actually know what a jib is. The specific etymology of the word jib is not clear, but for the purposes of the phrase it refers to a particular type of triangular sail on the front of a ship. These were standard among various navies in different ships, so knowing the shape and rigging of the jib would be a quick indication of which vessel and which type of vessel it was. This meaning was applied to people in the 19th century, with the same idea of judging one's face and overall appearance, possibly especially one's nose.