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

See Examples For:

topgallant sail

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)

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

Even the boys, although holding him in dread, instigated by Owen and Nat, remained aloft, until they had handed the mizen-royal and topgallant sail, and close reefed the topsail.

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

That topgallant sail is drawing, Mr Lowe; cast off the tow-rope, recall the boats, and hoist them in.

From The Ruined Cities of Zululand by Walmsley, Hugh Mulleneux

In a few minutes the schooner, under her mizen, brigantine, topsail, and topgallant sail, loosed from her moorings and made full sail through the straits.

From A Journey to the Interior of the Earth by Verne, Jules