Rigging

In nautical terms, rigging is a set of ropes, pulleys, and winches and the sails and spars to which they are attached. The rigging of a ship controls the release, position, and tautness of the sails which is what allowed propulsion prior to the advent of the steam engine and subsequent engine types including diesel and nuclear propelled ships. Today, though no modern navy uses sail-propulsion, many pleasure craft are sail driven, though often only by a mainsail and jib, whereas in the age of sail, ships could use dozens of sails to harness the wind.

In theatrical terms, rigging is the backstage machinery that controls elements on and about the stage including lighting, sound and visual effects (such as smoke machines or moving stage pieces), and the ropes, winches, and pulleys that control the curtain and other elements.

In political or competitive terms, rigging is the process of predetermining the outcome of an election, competition or contest. Many feel that the recent post-election declaration of martial law in Pakistan prior to the ruling of the Pakistani Supreme Court on the validity of the election constitutes rigging.