square sails

square sails
Sail Sail, n. [OE. seil, AS. segel, segl; akin to D. zeil, OHG. segal, G. & Sw. segel, Icel. segl, Dan. seil. [root] 153.] 1. An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels through the water. [1913 Webster]

Behoves him now both sail and oar. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail. [1913 Webster]

3. A wing; a van. [Poetic] [1913 Webster]

Like an eagle soaring To weather his broad sails. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

4. The extended surface of the arm of a windmill. [1913 Webster]

5. A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft. [1913 Webster]

Note: In this sense, the plural has usually the same form as the singular; as, twenty sail were in sight. [1913 Webster]

6. A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon the water. [1913 Webster]

Note: Sails are of two general kinds, {fore-and-aft sails}, and {square sails}. Square sails are always bent to yards, with their foot lying across the line of the vessel. Fore-and-aft sails are set upon stays or gaffs with their foot in line with the keel. A fore-and-aft sail is triangular, or quadrilateral with the after leech longer than the fore leech. Square sails are quadrilateral, but not necessarily square. See Phrases under {Fore}, a., and {Square}, a.; also, {Bark}, {Brig}, {Schooner}, {Ship}, {Stay}. [1913 Webster]

{Sail burton} (Naut.), a purchase for hoisting sails aloft for bending.

{Sail fluke} (Zo["o]l.), the whiff.

{Sail hook}, a small hook used in making sails, to hold the seams square.

{Sail loft}, a loft or room where sails are cut out and made.

{Sail room} (Naut.), a room in a vessel where sails are stowed when not in use.

{Sail yard} (Naut.), the yard or spar on which a sail is extended.

{Shoulder-of-mutton sail} (Naut.), a triangular sail of peculiar form. It is chiefly used to set on a boat's mast.

{To crowd sail}. (Naut.) See under {Crowd}.

{To loose sails} (Naut.), to unfurl or spread sails.

{To make sail} (Naut.), to extend an additional quantity of sail.

{To set a sail} (Naut.), to extend or spread a sail to the wind.

{To set sail} (Naut.), to unfurl or spread the sails; hence, to begin a voyage.

{To shorten sail} (Naut.), to reduce the extent of sail, or take in a part.

{To strike sail} (Naut.), to lower the sails suddenly, as in saluting, or in sudden gusts of wind; hence, to acknowledge inferiority; to abate pretension.

{Under sail}, having the sails spread. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • square-rigged — square′ rigged′ adj. naut. navig. having square sails as the principal sails • Etymology: 1760–70 square′ rig′ger, n …   From formal English to slang

  • square-rigged — square rigger, n. /skwair rigd /, adj. Naut. having square sails as the principal sails. [1760 70] * * * …   Universalium

  • square-rigged — [skwer′rigd′] adj. rigged with square sails as the principal sails …   English World dictionary

  • square sail — Naut. a sail set beneath a horizontal yard, the normal position of which, when not trimmed to the wind, is directly athwartships. See diag. under sail. [1590 1600] * * *       simplest form of rigging and the most ancient. The sails are attached… …   Universalium

  • square-rigged — /ˈskwɛə rɪgd/ (say skwair rigd) adjective Nautical having square sails as the principal sails …  

  • square-rigged — ADJ: ADJ n A square rigged sailing ship has large square sails …   English dictionary

  • square-rigged — adjective (of a ship) Having square sails rigged onto spars perpendicular to the keel …   Wiktionary

  • square-rigged — adjective rigged with square sails as the principal ones • Similar to: ↑rigged …   Useful english dictionary

  • Square rig — is a generic type of sail and rigging arrangement in which the primary driving sails are carried on horizontal spars which are perpendicular, or [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/square#Adjective square] , to the keel of the vessel and to the masts …   Wikipedia

  • Square-rigged — (skw[^a]r r[i^]gd ), a. (Naut.) Having the sails extended upon yards suspended horizontally by the middle, as distinguished from fore and aft sails; thus, a ship and a brig are square rigged vessels. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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