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staysail

[ stey-seyl; Nautical 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
“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of staysail1

First recorded in 1660–70; stay 3 + sail
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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.

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

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

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

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

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