parrel

or par·ral

[par-uh l]

noun

Nautical. a sliding ring or collar of rope, wood, or metal that confines a yard or the jaws of a gaff to the mast but allows vertical movement.

Origin of parrel

1425–75; late Middle English perell, variant of Middle English parail, aphetic variant of aparail apparel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for parrel

Historical Examples of parrel

"I feel like my headt vas as pig as a parrel," answered Carl.
Motor Matt's Daring Rescue
Stanley R. Matthews
Some of the men ran to let go the haulyards and lower the sail, but the parrel jammed and the yard would not come down.
She
H. Rider Haggard
Spherical pieces of wood, termed bull's-eyes, having a hole through them, in which is inserted the rope of the parrel.
The Sailor's Word-Book
William Henry Smyth
The Parrel is a movable band-rope, used to fasten the yard to its respective mast.
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction
Various
The parrel cut, the yard was quickly topped and unrigged, and then lowered away on deck.
Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea
James O. Brayman

British Dictionary definitions for parrel

parrel

parral

noun

nautical a ring that holds the jaws of a boom to the mast but lets it slide up and down

Word Origin for parrel

C15: probably from obsolete aparail equipment, a variant of apparel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for parrel

late 15c., "binding that fixes a yard to a mast," from parel "equipment" (c.1400), earlier "apparel" (early 14c.), a shortening of apparel (n.).