lifeline vs stay

noun

On the deck of a boat, a line to which one can attach oneself to stay aboard on rough seas.
A particular crease in the palm.
A line from the diver to a tender at the surface control point.
A line to which a drowning or falling victim may cling.
A means or route for transporting indispensable supplies.
System or structure of vital importance to a community.
A source of salvation in a crisis.

noun

A strong rope or wire supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel.
A guy, rope, or wire supporting or stabilizing a platform, such as a bridge, a pole, such as a tentpole, the mast of a derrick, or other structural element.
Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time.
A piece of stiff material, such as plastic or whalebone, used to stiffen a piece of clothing.
A corset.
Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.
The transverse piece in a chain-cable link.
A prop; a support.
A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.
A station or fixed anchorage for vessels.

verb

To live; reside
To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays.
To put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back.
To brace or support with a stay or stays
To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.
To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.
To continue to have a particular quality.
To change; tack; go about; be in stays, as a ship.
To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end; to show staying power.
To restrain; withhold; check; stop.
To hold the attention of.
To cause to cease; to put an end to.
To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
To tack; put on the other tack.

adj

adv