Definitions for: Sail


[n] an ocean trip taken for pleasure
[n] a large piece of fabric (as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
[v] travel by boat on a boat propelled by wind or by other means; "The QE2 will sail to Southampton tomorrow"
[v] traverse or travel by ship on (a body of water); "We sailed the Atlantic"; "He sailed the Pacific all alone"
[v] move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions; "The diva swept into the room"; "Shreds of paper sailed through the air"; "The searchlights swept across the sky"
[v] travel in a boat propelled by wind; "I love sailing, especially on the open sea"



Webster (1913) Definition: 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.

Behoves him now both sail and oar. --Milton.

2. Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.

3. A wing; a van. [Poetic]

Like an eagle soaring To weather his broad sails.
--Spenser.

4. The extended surface of the arm of a windmill.

5. A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.

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

6. A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon
the water.

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.

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.


Sail, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sailed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Sailing.] [AS. segelian, seglian. See Sail, n.]
1. To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind
upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body
of water by the action of steam or other power.

2. To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a
water fowl.

3. To be conveyed in a vessel on water; to pass by water; as,
they sailed from London to Canton.

4. To set sail; to begin a voyage.

5. To move smoothly through the air; to glide through the air
without apparent exertion, as a bird.

As is a winged messenger of heaven, . . . When he
bestrides the lazy pacing clouds, And sails upon the
bosom of the air. --Shak.


Sail, v. t.
1. To pass or move upon, as in a ship, by means of sails;
hence, to move or journey upon (the water) by means of
steam or other force.

A thousand ships were manned to sail the sea.
--Dryden.

2. To fly through; to glide or move smoothly through.

Sublime she sails The a["e]rial space, and mounts
the wing[`e]d gales. --Pope.

3. To direct or manage the motion of, as a vessel; as, to
sail one's own ship. --Totten.

Synonyms: canvas, canvass, cruise, navigate, sheet, sweep, voyage

See Also: ace, astrogate, balloon sail, beat, boat, breeze through, change course, crossjack, cruise, fore-and-aft sail, foresail, gybe, headsail, jib, jibe, journey, luff, mainsail, main-topsail, mizzen course, move, nail, ocean trip, outpoint, pass with flying colors, piece of cloth, piece of material, point, press of canvas, press of sail, rack, royal, run, sail through, sailing ship, sailing vessel, save-all, scud, skysail, square sail, swan, sweep through, tack, topgallant, topgallant sail, topsail, travel, voyage, wear round, wear ship, weather

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