close-hauled

American  

[klohs-hawld] / ˈkloʊsˈhɔld /

adjective

Nautical.

1. as close to the wind as a vessel will sail, with sails as flat as possible; full and by.

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close-hauled British  

/ ˌkləʊsˈhɔːld /

adjective

1. nautical with the sails flat, so as to sail as close to the wind as possible

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Etymology

Origin of close-hauled

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

After a night of reckless seamanship, both ships are standing clear, close-hauled on the port tack, all sails set and drawing, with the We're Here to the windward and astern of Jenny Cushman.

From Time Magazine Archive

The small boats got off in fine weather, close-hauled in a fresh breeze.

From Time Magazine Archive

Once he tried his hand at sailing and a Bermuda lady-expert promptly asked: "Do you reef in your gaff-topsails when you are close-hauled or do you let go the mizzentop-bowlines and crossjack-braces?"

From Time Magazine Archive

The wind shifted and suddenly we were close-hauled on a course to the northwest that pointed us approximately toward the Aleutian Islands.

From Time Magazine Archive

For example, there was the race when Red Rose and another yacht met close-hauled.

From Wyndham's Pal by Bindloss, Harold