gaff topsail

[ gaf top-seyl; Nautical top-suhl ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. Also called fore-and-aft topsail. a jib-headed fore-and-aft sail set above a gaff.
2. a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail set above the spanker of a bark, between the gaff of the spanker and an upper gaff.

gaff-topsail

noun

1. a sail set above a gaffsail

Word History and Origins

Origin of gaff topsail¹

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

And raising me in his arms he laid me on the folds of the gaff-topsail, which lay upon the deck near the tiller.

From Project Gutenberg

Half an hour later we took in the fore topsail and the main gaff-topsail, so that nothing but our fore and aft sails remained.

From Project Gutenberg

The main gaff-topsail was next set, and the Josephine was then under full sail.

From Project Gutenberg

Within a minute the mainsail and gaff-topsail were hauled down, so that the ship might fall off, and the jib hauled down.

From Project Gutenberg

The main gaff-topsail was taken in, and then the schooner had only her jib, foresail, and mainsail.

From Project Gutenberg