In the beginning, a gabier was a Matelot of the gabie (Large Hunier). Then, by extention, specifically affected sailor to work in the mast with the operations and the maintenance of gréement (masts, yards, veils, operations current and dormant…). On the sailing S old, their number was very important, because of very large surfaces of fabric. Not mixing with the remainder a crew, it was not rare, when the weather was fine, that they sleep even in the Hune S. They were affected by teams, under the authority of a chief of top, with the operation of a Mât. The quarters were distributed then between " bâbordais" and " tribordais" (see the article Starboard).