close-reefed

[ klohs-reefd, klohz- ]

adjectiveNautical.
  1. having most or all of the sail reefs taken in.

Origin of close-reefed

1
First recorded in 1750–60

Words Nearby close-reefed

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use close-reefed in a sentence

  • The Wellington came bowling along under close-reefed topsails.

  • Soon there struggled in the narrow mouth the shadow of a close-reefed trawler of sixty tons or so.

    Yachting Vol. 2 | Various.
  • We were at this time scudding under the fore-sail and close-reefed main-top-sail, the wind blowing strong from the west.

  • Her three topmasts were housed, and she was hove-to under the lee clew of her close-reefed topsail and a small storm-trysail.

    With Airship and Submarine | Harry Collingwood
  • One awful morning in November, 1864, the vessel was hove-to under close-reefed main topsail.

    Windjammers and Sea Tramps | Walter Runciman