backwind
Americanverb (used with object)
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to divert wind against the lee side of (a sail) from another sail.
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to set (a sail) so that the wind is on what would ordinarily be the lee side, as for turning the bow of a boat away from the wind.
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to blanket (another sailing vessel) by spilling wind from the sails of one vessel onto the lee side of the sails of the other.
Etymology
Origin of backwind
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Constellation boomed out ahead after the start, tucked Eagle neatly into her backwind, was 43 sec. ahead rounding the first mark, and wound up clobbering Eagle by 4 min.
From Time Magazine Archive
In all of the seven races, Skipper Cox outmaneuvered his rivals at the start, pouring backwind into their sails and slipping out in front.
From Time Magazine Archive
Why hadn't Jock tried to backwind the U.S.'s Intrepid at the start?
From Time Magazine Archive
Sailing with the board retracted lets a confident helmsman worry into shallow anchorages, auxiliary silent, drop the anchor and backwind the main to set it.
From Time Magazine Archive
The boat that can leap out a bit ahead of its opponent can blanket or backwind the following yacht.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
