trysail

American  

[trahy-seyl, trahy-suhl] / ˈtraɪˌseɪl, ˈtraɪ səl /

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.

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trysail British  

/ ˈtraɪˌseɪl, ˈtraɪsəl /

noun

1. Also called: storm trysail.  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

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Etymology

Origin of trysail

First recorded in 1760–70; try + sail

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trysail

We have been sailing at around 80 percent with just the No. 4 jib, a trysail and triple-reefed mizzen, but now we have also damaged the mizzen luff track.

From Time Magazine Archive

Two days later, the Flame blew into Cowes at dawn under a trysail because her mainsail had been ripped the day before.

From Time Magazine Archive

The struggle had carried Dan'l forward, so that when he dropped 'twas across the fallen trysail.

From Merry-Garden and Other Stories by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

As it was, the fore trysail split with the report of a cannon, and the main-topsail, unable to stand the enormous strain, was torn from top to bottom.

From In Eastern Seas Or, the Commission of H.M.S. 'Iron Duke,' flag-ship in China, 1878-83 by J. J. Smith

The mainboom was lashed amidships, and a jib-headed storm trysail was sheeted aft.

From Harper's Round Table, July 23, 1895 by Various