press of sail
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of press of sail
First recorded in 1585–95
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 rush with violence and noise, as a ship under a press of sail, before a free wind.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah
The next day a favourable south wind blew; they weighed anchor, and the ship, under press of sail, left the harbour for the open sea.
From Eastern Tales by Many Story Tellers by Valentine, L. (Laura)
The captain had never in his life experienced a worse night, and to prevent our being blown further off Malta, he carried a press of sail.
From Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, Volume I Comprising Their Life and Work as Recorded in Their Diaries From 1812 to 1883 by Loewe, Louis
Having left Latitude Bay, we stood off until midnight, and then in shore again, carrying a press of sail all the time, in order to 'hold our own' against our old enemy, the current.
From Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836 Volume I. - Proceedings of the First Expedition, 1826-1830 by Fitzroy, Robert
The despatches of Don Louis de Cordova described the partial engagement as a complete rout, and Howe was made to flee with all press of sail from his brave pursuers.
From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 14 by Various
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.
