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trysail

[ trahy-seyl; Nautical trahy-suhl ]

noun

, Nautical.
  1. a triangular or quadrilateral sail having its luff hooped or otherwise bent to a mast, used for lying to or keeping a vessel headed into the wind; spencer.


trysail

/ ˈtraɪˌseɪl; ˈtraɪsəl /

noun

  1. a small fore-and-aft sail, triangular or square, set on the mainmast of a sailing vessel in foul weather to help keep her head to the wind Also calledstorm trysail
“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 trysail1

First recorded in 1760–70; try + sail
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Example Sentences

Her three topmasts were housed, and she was hove-to under the lee clew of her close-reefed topsail and a small storm-trysail.

A snow was a small vessel like a brig except for having a supplementary third, or trysail, mast.

He now gave the word to set the trysail; and the mainsail being stowed, it was hoisted in its stead.

Ten minutes' work and it was securely fastened and its cover on; two reefs were put in the trysail.

In proof of that we could see back behind us where the Nannie O, under her trysail, was almost holding her own.

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tryptophantrysail mast