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skysail

American  
[skahy-seyl, skahy-suhl] / ˈskaɪˌseɪl, ˈskaɪ səl /

noun

Nautical.
  1. (in a square-rigged vessel) a light square sail next above the royal.

  2. a triangular sail set on a stay between the fore and main trucks of a racing schooner.


skysail British  
/ ˈskaɪˌseɪl /

noun

  1. a square sail set above the royal on a square-rigger

  2. a triangular sail set between the trucks of a racing schooner

"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

Etymology

Origin of skysail

First recorded in 1820–30; sky + sail

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.

See Examples For:

But seldom had he dared dream of touching this uppermost skysail of influence.

From Time Magazine Archive

Toward morning, the wind having become light, we crossed our royal and skysail yards, and at daylight we were seen under a cloud of sail, having royal and skysails fore and aft.

From Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana

Near to starboard was a white ship, fully rigged, standing towards the island with royals set, and even a towering main skysail.

From The Sea and the Jungle by H. M. (Henry Major) Tomlinson

"By heavens! the little witch still holds her way with us!—Have the skysail set, and rig out the top-gallant-studd'n'sail!"

From The Portland Sketch Book by Various

I set and took in every sail, from a skysail to a trysail.

From Frank Mildmay Or, the Naval Officer by Frederick Marryat

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