staysail

American  

[stey-seyl, stey-suhl] / ˈsteɪˌseɪl, ˈsteɪ səl /

noun

Nautical.

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

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staysail British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of staysail

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.

From Project Gutenberg

A white sea swept her forward as they hauled down the staysail; and then, coming round, she plunged head to wind, a few yards from the dark ironwork of the pier.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

After paying the vessel off before the wind with the foretopmast staysail, they set the fore and main topsails, an amount of canvas which the prudent mate considered sufficient for a barque so undermanned.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg