fore-and-aft sails

fore-and-aft 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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  • fore-and-aft-rigged — «FR uhn AFT RIHGD, AHFT ; FOHR », adjective. having fore and aft sails. A fore and aft rigged ship has the sails set lengthwise …   Useful english dictionary

  • fore-and-aft rig — noun rig in which the principal sails are fore and aft • Hypernyms: ↑rig, ↑rigging * * * noun 1. : a sailing ship rig in which most or all of the sails are not attached to yards but are bent to gaffs or set on the masts or on stays in the midship …   Useful english dictionary

  • fore-and-aft sail — any of various sails, as jib headed sails, gaff sails, lugsails, lateen sails, spritsails, staysails, and jibs, that do not set on yards and whose normal position, when not trimmed, is in a fore and aft direction amidships. [1810 20] * * * ▪… …   Universalium

  • Fore and aft — Fore Fore, adv. [AS. fore, adv. & prep., another form of for. See {For}, and cf. {Former}, {Foremost}.] 1. In the part that precedes or goes first; opposed to aft, after, back, behind, etc. [1913 Webster] 2. Formerly; previously; afore. [Obs. or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fore-and-aft rigged — Fore Fore, adv. [AS. fore, adv. & prep., another form of for. See {For}, and cf. {Former}, {Foremost}.] 1. In the part that precedes or goes first; opposed to aft, after, back, behind, etc. [1913 Webster] 2. Formerly; previously; afore. [Obs. or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fore and aft — Naut. n. 1. from the bow to the stern; lengthwise [sails rigged fore and aft] 2. at, in, or toward both the bow and the stern [lifeboats located fore and aft] * * * …   Universalium

  • fore and aft — Naut. n. 1. from the bow to the stern; lengthwise [sails rigged fore and aft] 2. at, in, or toward both the bow and the stern [lifeboats located fore and aft] …   English World dictionary

  • fore-and-aft rig — fore′ and aft′ rig n. naut. navig. a rig in which the principal sails are fore and aft • Etymology: 1825–35 fore′ and aft′rigged , adj …   From formal English to slang

  • fore-and-aft rig — fore and aftrigged, adj. Naut. a rig in which the principal sails are fore and aft. [1825 35] * * * …   Universalium

  • fore-and-aft — [fôr′ən aft′] adj. Naut. from the bow to the stern; lengthwise or set lengthwise, as sails …   English World dictionary

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