close-hauled

[klohs-hawld]

adjective

Nautical.

1. as close to the wind as a vessel will sail, with sails as flat as possible; full and by.

close-hauled

/ ˌkləʊsˈhɔːld /

adjective

1. nautical with the sails flat, so as to sail as close to the wind as possible

Word History and Origins

Origin of close-hauled¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

A short spell of close-hauled work, as the smack tacked towards the entrance, was followed by a run, full and by, down the buoyed channel to the bar buoy.

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The old town of Portsmouth appeared to slip past our larboard quarter, and presently the ship was lifting to the gentle swell, as, close-hauled, we headed towards the English Channel.

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In the meantime, the yacht crept slowly through the sparkling water, close-hauled to a light wind that Wyndham knew would not last.

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The yacht sailed out to sea, close-hauled on the port-tack; but the wind was very light, and she did not make more than two knots an hour.

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"True, and 'tis somewhat in our favour, for you perceive the wind has shifted in the night to west-sou'-west, and belike we can sail close-hauled better than she can."

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