save-all

American  

[seyv-awl] / ˈseɪvˌɔl /

noun

1. a means, contrivance, or receptacle for preventing loss or waste.

2. Older Use. overalls.

3. Nautical.

   1. a net secured between a pier and a ship, beneath cargo being transferred from one to the other.

   2. a sail for utilizing wind spilled from the regular sails of a vessel: used in very light winds.

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save-all British  

noun

1. a device to prevent waste or loss

2. nautical

   1. a net used while loading a ship

   2. a light sail set to catch wind spilling from another sail

3. dialect overalls or a pinafore

4. a dialect word for miser 1

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Etymology

Origin of save-all

First recorded in 1635–45; noun use of verb phrase save all

Example Sentences

Another curious illuminating appurtenance was called a save-all or candle-wedge.

From Customs and Fashions in Old New England by Earle, Alice Morse

A save-all, or small sail, set occasionally under the lower studding-sail or driver-boom, in a fair wind and smooth sea.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

Under every lamp stands a sort of "save-all," consisting of a small skin basket for catching the oil that falls over.

From Three Voyages for the Discovery of a Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and Narrative of an Attempt to Reach the North Pole, Volume 2 by Parry, William Edward, Sir

For this reason the trough into which it falls from the revolving "wire" is called the "save-all."

From A Book of Exposition by Nugent, Homer Heath

D Dairy, the business of, generally carried on as a save-all, 96.

From An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Garnier, Germain