plain sail

American  

noun

Nautical.

1. any of the ordinary working sails of a vessel.

2. all these sails, taken collectively.

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Etymology

Origin of plain sail

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

When running before a breeze such a craft could set not merely all plain sail, but her squaresail, square-topsail and even stun'sls.

From King's Cutters and Smugglers 1700-1855 by Chatterton, E. Keble (Edward Keble)

But give me as much wind as I can show all plain sail to, and no farther for’ard than abeam, and I’ll undertake to land you all at Calcutta within sixty days from to-day.”

From The Castaways by Dugdale, Thomas Cantrell

We were under all plain sail at the time, with the exception of the royals, which were furled, and the main sail that hung in the buntlines.

From Heroes of the Goodwin Sands by Treanor, Thomas Stanley

A brigantine, sir, of about two hundred tons, under all plain sail.

From A Middy of the King A Romance of the Old British Navy by Hodgson, Edward S.

The wind proving favourable, plain sail was made, and for the next five days we made rapid headway.

From From Lower Deck to Pulpit by Cowling, Henry