What does "preventer" mean?

Preventer: One who prevents or obstructs; a hinderer; that which hinders; as, a preventer of evils or of disease.

Additional senses

  1. 2.(Naut.) An auxiliary rope to strengthen a mast. Preventer bolts, or Preventer plates (Naut.), fixtures connected with preventers to reënforce other rigging. -- Preventer stay. (Naut.) Same as Preventer, 3.

Sources