spritsail
Americannoun
noun
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a rectangular sail mounted on a sprit in some 19th-century small vessels
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(in medieval rigging) a square sail mounted on a yard on the bowsprit
Etymology
Origin of spritsail
1425–75; late Middle English sprete seyle ( see sprit, sail); compare Dutch sprietzeil
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.
One of the Italians took a turn with it over a cleat, while I hastened to lower our big spritsail.
From Tales of the Fish Patrol by George Varian
"Try hoisting the spritsail, John, and see if you can bring the bow about."
From Caribbee by Thomas Hoover
Out of this well forked the bowsprit, with the spritsail yard braced fore and aft.
From The Frozen Pirate by W. Clark (William Clark) Russell
The exchange was made, and the salmon boat got up its spritsail and headed down the bay toward the marshes off San Rafael.
From Tales of the Fish Patrol by George Varian
Forward the ships had bowsprits, on which each set a spritsail, from a spritsail yard.
From On the Spanish Main Or, Some English forays on the Isthmus of Darien. by John Masefield
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