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topsail

 - 2 dictionary results

top⋅sail

[top-seyl; Naut. top-suhl]
–noun Nautical.
a sail, or either of a pair of sails, set immediately above the lowermost sail of a mast and supported by a topmast.


Origin:
1350–1400; ME topseil. See top 1 , sail
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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top·sail   (tŏp'səl, -sāl')   
n.  
  1. A square sail set above the lowest sail on the mast of a square-rigged ship.

  2. A triangular or square sail set above the gaff of a lower sail on a fore-and-aft-rigged ship.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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