gaff topsail
noun
a jib-headed fore-and-aft sail set above a gaff.
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gaff topsail
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gaff-topsail
gaff-topsailnouna sail set above a gaffsail
gaff topsail
American
[gaf top-seyl, top-suhl]
/ ˈgæf ˈtɒpˌseɪl, ˈtɒpˌsəl /
noun
Nautical.
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Also called fore-and-aft topsail. a jib-headed fore-and-aft sail set above a gaff.
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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
British
noun
Etymology
Origin of gaff topsail
First recorded in 1785–95
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:
The sharp crack of a shot from the six-pounder was the reply, and simultaneously, holes appeared in the gaff topsail and the main topgallant staysail.
From The Boy With the U. S. Life-Savers by Rolt-Wheeler, Francis
Then the creature spread her wings like a bird—mainsail and gaff topsail, staysail and jib—leaped away to leeward, and seemed actually to bound over the waves.
From Malcolm by MacDonald, George
A belt of smoky red spread swiftly along the horizon, he heard the high gaff topsail flap, booms rattled and then the yacht got quiet.
From Wyndham's Pal by Bindloss, Harold
The jib, mainsail, and gaff topsail are hauled up to their very tautest; finally, the cable is slipped, and then old Sandy for the first time looks around.
From Lippincott's Magazine, October 1885 by Various
The mainsail was cast loose, jib and staysail ready, and the gaff topsail would not take many minutes to run up in its place.
From In the King's Name The Cruise of the "Kestrel" by Fenn, George Manville
The main gaff-topsail was taken in, and then the schooner had only her jib, foresail, and mainsail.
From Dikes and Ditches Young America in Holland and Belguim by Optic, Oliver
There and then, with a bight of the gaff-topsail halliards, he gave me such a dressing down as I have never forgotten, You Sing standing by with a face like a door-knocker for expressionless calm.
From The Log of a Sea-Waif Being Recollections of the First Four Years of My Sea Life by Bullen, Frank T.
At four o'clock, while our Norwegian bark was just hull down, the gaff-topsail was taken in, a strong S.E. wind with rain having arisen.
From A Yacht Voyage to Norway, Denmark, and Sweden 2nd edition by Ross, William A.
But she was provided with an abundance of "kites," including an immense gaff-topsail, which extended on poles far above the topmast head, and far beyond the peak, a balloon-jib, a jib-topsail, and a three-cornered studding-sail.
From The Yacht Club or The Young Boat-Builder by Optic, Oliver
The spar held on for a minute, but a stronger puff of wind filling the sail, with a loud crash it gave way, and down came the gaff-topsail and square-topsail.
From The Rival Crusoes by Kingston, William Henry Giles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
