forestaysail

American  

[fawr-stey-seyl, fohr-, fawr-stey-suhl, fohr-] / ˌfɔrˈsteɪˌseɪl, ˌfoʊr-, ˌfɔrˈsteɪ səl, ˌfoʊr- /

noun

1. a triangular sail set on a forestay; the innermost headsail of a vessel.

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forestaysail British  

/ fɔːˈsteɪˌseɪl, fɔːˈsteɪsəl /

noun

1. nautical the triangular headsail set aftermost on a vessel

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Etymology

Origin of forestaysail

First recorded in 1735–45; forestay + sail

Example Sentences

Stuart jumped for the halyards, and the jib and the forestaysail came rippling down.

From "Stuart Little" by E.B. White

So they got the canvas on her, forestaysail, gaff-headed foresail, mainstaysail, and a blackened three-cornered strip abaft the mainmast, and the skipper felt a trifle easier when he found that he could steer her.

From Thrice Armed by Bindloss, Harold

Blown away fore lower topsail, forestaysail, and carried away lifts to staysail.

From More Cargoes 1897 by Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark)

Every jib and forestaysail on board having now been torn out, the brig remained under close-reefed foretopsail, spencer, and spanker, and did little but drift to leeward.

From Overland by De Forest, J. W. (John William)

In the meanwhile the schooner lay to with backed forestaysail, tumbling wildly on a dim, grey sea.

From Hawtrey's Deputy by Cuneo, Cyrus