skysail

[ skahy-seyl; Nautical skahy-suh l ]

/ ˈskaɪˌseɪl; Nautical ˈskaɪ səl /

noun Nautical.

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

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

Nearby words

Origin of skysail

First recorded in 1820–30; sky + sail

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for skysail

Single iron cross-trees at the head of long topgallant-masts, to support royal and skysail masts.
The Sailor's Word-Book|William Henry Smyth
In these, the topgallant, royal and skysail masts are all one stick.
The Seaman's Friend|Richard Henry Dana
And Skysail Jack and I peered and knew each other under the wreckage.
The Jacket (The Star-Rover)|Jack London
When the royal is taken in, haul the skysail yard down with the royal yard, and furl the sail in with the royal.
The Seaman's Friend|Richard Henry Dana

I shared my Java and grub with him, learned about Skysail Jack, and then learned about him.
The Road|Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for skysail

skysail

/ (ˈskaɪˌseɪl) /

noun nautical

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

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