headsail
Americannoun
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any of various jibs or staysails set forward of the foremost mast of a vessel.
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any sail set on a foremast, especially on a vessel having three or more masts.
noun
Etymology
Origin of headsail
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.
To reduce wind resistance, they swapped out the pointy bowsprit between the boat's two hulls with a stubbier version, because the winds were too strong for the billowing headsail that attaches to it.
From Reuters • Sep. 29, 2013
With a 100 percent headsail, she carries about 4,100 square feet of sail on the Southern Spars four-spreader mast.
From Time Magazine Archive
Barely had the crewmen cleared the headsail when Gretel II nosed into a heavy wave that bucked Crewman Paul Salmon off the slippery deck.
From Time Magazine Archive
Six minutes later, the foremast was split to the deck and carried the foresail and headsail down with it.
From Time Magazine Archive
After a while, Weston, lowering the headsail, dropped the anchor over close to the beach, and Major Kinnaird paddled a canoe off gingerly.
From The Gold Trail by Bindloss, Harold
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.
