goosewing
Americannoun
-
the weather clew of a square sail, held taut when the lee side of the sail is furled.
-
either of the triangular areas of a square sail left exposed to the wind when the middle part is lashed to the yard during a gale.
-
a triangular studdingsail.
Etymology
Origin of goosewing
1350–1400; Middle English, for literal sense. See goose, wing
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.
Let you rise the ashes from the sods are on the hearth and redden them with a goosewing, if there is a goosewing to be found.
From New Irish Comedies by Gregory, Lady
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.