spinnaker

[ spin-uh-ker ]

/ ˈspɪn ə kər /

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noun Nautical.

a large, usually triangular sail carried by a yacht as a headsail when running before the wind or when the wind is abaft the beam.

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Origin of spinnaker

First recorded in 1865–70; said to be alteration of Sphinx, name of the first yacht making regular use of this sail

Words nearby spinnaker

Spingarn, spiniferous, spinifex, spin machine, spinmeister, spinnaker, spinnbarkeit, spinner, spinneret, spinnery, spinney

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use spinnaker in a sentence

The breeze kept up, and the spinnaker was carried on 'Britannia' until Cape Barfleur lights were made out right ahead.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.
A spinnaker is a very handy sail, and preferable to a squaresail in light weather.
The Sportswoman's Library, v. 2|Various
Spinnaker: A modern adaptation of a jib-shaped sail, often seen set from the top masthead and boomed out from the mast.
The Sportswoman's Library, v. 2|Various
At the end of half an hour, while we were preparing to set the spinnaker, with a few sickly gasps the wind would die away.
The Cruise of the Snark|Jack London

But that little craft, her big spinnaker filled by the southeast trade, was making a good race of it.
The Cruise of the Snark|Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for spinnaker

spinnaker

/ (ˈspɪnəkə, nautical ˈspæŋkə) /

noun

a large light triangular racing sail set from the foremast of a yacht when running or on a broad reach

Word Origin for spinnaker

C19: probably from spin + (mo) niker, but traditionally derived from Sphinx, the yacht that first adopted this type of sail

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