spanker

American  

[spang-ker] / ˈspæŋ kər /

noun

1. Nautical.

   1. a fore-and-aft sail on the aftermost lower mast of a sailing vessel having three or more masts.

   2. a designation given to the mast abaft a mizzenmast, usually the aftermost mast in any vessel.

2. Informal. a smartly moving person or animal, especially a fast horse.

3. Chiefly New England. something remarkably fine.

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adjective

Nautical.

1. of or relating to a spanker mast or its rigging.

spanker British  

/ ˈspæŋkə /

noun

1. nautical a fore-and-aft sail or a mast that is aftermost in a sailing vessel

2. informal a person or animal that moves at a quick smart pace

3. informal something outstandingly fine or large

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Etymology

Origin of spanker

First recorded in 1745–55; akin to spanking

Example Sentences

“Let’s set the spanker, I just want to see what happens!” calls the skipper, excited like a Christmas-morning child.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 15, 2016

And, yes, a spanker of behinds when the owners of said behinds got too outrageously out of line.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 19, 2014

We could not anchor here, that was evident, so we set the spanker, slued about, and made tracks as rapidly as we could before the darkness should set in.

From In Eastern Seas Or, the Commission of H.M.S. 'Iron Duke,' flag-ship in China, 1878-83 by Smith, J. J.

Here! a dozen of you close reef this spanker, and let us see how long it will take for the wind to cut it up into ribands.

From Captain Kyd, Vol. II or, The Wizard of the Sea by Ingraham, Jonathon Holt

The cruiser had come down under an easy spread of canvas, wearing a jib, three topsails, fore, main, and mizzen, and her spanker.

From Due South or Cuba Past and Present by Ballou, Maturin Murray