close-hauled

American

[klohs-hawld] / ˈkloʊsˈhɔld /

adjective

Nautical.

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

close-hauled British

/ ˌkləʊsˈhɔːld /

adjective

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of close-hauled

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

close-hauled

After a night of reckless seamanship, both ships are standing clear, close-hauled on the port tack, all sails set and drawing, with the We're Here to the windward and astern of Jenny Cushman.

From Time Magazine Archive

The small boats got off in fine weather, close-hauled in a fresh breeze.

From Time Magazine Archive

The wind shifted and suddenly we were close-hauled on a course to the northwest that pointed us approximately toward the Aleutian Islands.

From Time Magazine Archive

Skipper Moore close-hauled Argyll for the long reach to Bermuda, with a stiff breeze carrying them along.

From Time Magazine Archive

The wind was in the north-east, and the Agile was almost close-hauled, while the others had the wind broad on their quarters.

From A Roving Commission Or, Through the Black Insurrection at Hayti by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023