downhaul

American  

[doun-hawl] / ˈdaʊnˌhɔl /

noun

Nautical.

1. any of various lines for pulling down a sail or a yard, as for securing in a lowered position when not in use.

---

downhaul British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌhɔːl /

noun

1. nautical a line for hauling down a sail or for increasing the tension at its luff

---

Etymology

Origin of downhaul

First recorded in 1660–70; down ¹ + haul

Example Sentences

I soon had my own fellow perfectly at my mercy, and got him so near the end of the jib downhaul, as to secure him with a turn or two of that rope.

From Afloat and Ashore A Sea Tale by Cooper, James Fenimore

I was near the mate, but sprang past several, threw the downhaul over the windlass, and jumped between the knight-heads out upon the bowsprit.

From Two Years Before the Mast by Dana, Richard Henry

Her yard and boom were in his linhay, the sheet and downhaul in Tony's.

From A Poor Man's House by Reynolds, Stephen Sydney

Then I needed to think of my own safety and passed a turn of the mizzen gaff-topsail downhaul about me, belaying to a pin as the cataclysm hit us.

From The Grain Ship by Robertson, Morgan

If it breezed up, and the jibtopsail was to be taken in, they never minded a wetting, and they would be out at the bowsprit end before there was a hand at the downhaul.

From Man Overboard! by Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion)