from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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Behoves him now both sail and oar. --Milton.
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2. Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.
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3. A wing; a van. [Poetic]
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Like an eagle soaring
To weather his broad sails. --Spenser.
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4. The extended surface of the arm of a windmill.
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5. A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.
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Note: In this sense, the plural has usually the same form as
the singular; as, twenty sail were in sight.
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6. A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon
the water.
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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}.
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{Sail burton} (Naut.), a purchase for hoisting sails aloft
for bending.
{Sail fluke} (Zool.), 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.
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