plain sail

American  

noun

Nautical.

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

2. all these sails, taken collectively.

---

Etymology

Origin of plain sail

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

We were under all plain sail, and, as there was a good breeze, we ran quickly through the water as before, with men on the look-out forward, and the lead kept going.

From The Cruise of the Dainty Rovings in the Pacific by Kingston, William Henry Giles

By eight the lagoon was flawed with long cat’s-paws, and the palms tossed and rustled; before ten we were clear of the passage and skimming under all plain sail, with bubbling scuppers.

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 18 (of 25) by Stevenson, Robert Louis

Apparently she had been under all plain sail when the thing happened.

From Overdue The Story of a Missing Ship by Holloway, W. Herbert

We accordingly jogged along under plain sail until daylight, when we got the studding-sails once more upon the little hooker and tried her paces.

From A Middy in Command A Tale of the Slave Squadron by Hodgson, Edward S.

When in line of battle, for the leading ship to carry as much sail as her commander judges the worst sailing ship can preserve her station with all her plain sail set.

From Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816 Publications Of The Navy Records Society Vol. XXIX. by Corbett, Julian S. (Julian Stafford)