topgallant sail

American  

noun

Nautical.

1. a sail or either of two sails set on the yard or yards of a topgallant mast.

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Etymology

Origin of topgallant sail

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

Just the second before he spoke, the leech of the topgallant sail had caught over the end of the yard arm.

From Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors: Tales of 1812 by Barnes, James

Voluntary watches from the crosstrees of the topgallant sail were self–imposed by more than one who would have cursed such toil under any other circumstances.

From Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Walter, F. P.

They immediately set to work, however, and, by using their knives, succeeded in dragging up a topsail and topgallant sail.

From Owen Hartley; or, Ups and Downs A Tale of Land and Sea by Kingston, William Henry Giles

I remained where I was, intently watching that gleaming white speck until it had grown into the semblance of a royal and the head of a topgallant sail.

From The Strange Adventures of Eric Blackburn by Collingwood, Harry

Then doubt became certainty, as his eye fell upon a small patch in one of the cloths of the topgallant sail.

From Held Fast For England A Tale of the Siege of Gibraltar (1779-83) by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)