staysail

[stey-seyl, stey-suhl]

noun

Nautical.

1. any sail set on a stay, as a triangular sail between two masts.

staysail

/ ˈsteɪˌseɪl, ˈsteɪsəl /

noun

1. an auxiliary sail, often triangular, set to catch the wind, as between the masts of a yawl ( mizzen staysail ), aft of a spinnaker ( spinnaker staysail ), etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of staysail¹

First recorded in 1660–70; stay ³ + sail

Example Sentences

The Myrtle, no longer impeded by the trailing wreckage, forged rapidly through the water, although she was now carrying foresail, staysail, and outer jib only.

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By and by Marston hauled down the staysail and stood on the deck forward, studying the forbidding coast Wyndham steered for.

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Having arrived at the edge of the pack, a gale came on so suddenly that they were at once reduced to storm staysails.

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First the foretopmast staysail was set and the sheets hauled aft so as to pay off before the wind.

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There's an old staysail they can have to sleep in.

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