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definitions

skysail

[skahy-seyl; Nautical skahy-suh l]
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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.

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

Historical Examples of skysail

  • In these, the topgallant, royal and skysail masts are all one stick.

    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

  • And the guards led me on, and that was the last I saw of Skysail Jack.

  • And Skysail Jack and I peered and knew each other under the wreckage.

  • 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

British Dictionary definitions for skysail

skysail

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