fore-and-aft sail

American  

noun

1. any of various sails, as jib-headed sails, gaff sails, lugsails, lateen sails, spritsails, staysails, and jibs, that do not set on yards and whose normal position, when not trimmed, is in a fore-and-aft direction amidships.

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Etymology

Origin of fore-and-aft sail

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

The little ship, like most traders of the Inmost Sea, bore the high fore-and-aft sail that can be turned to catch a headwind, and her master was a handy seaman, proud of his skill.

From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin

A fore-and-aft sail of various shapes set on the mizen stay.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

The snow was practically a brig, carrying a fore-and-aft sail on the mainmast, with a square sail directly above it.

From American Merchant Ships and Sailors by Abbot, Willis J. (Willis John)

The catboat was sixteen feet over all, with its mast stepped well forward, of course, carrying a large fore-and-aft sail with gaff and boom.

From Wyn's Camping Days or, The Outing of the Go-Ahead Club by Marlowe, Amy Bell

Behind the main-sail there is a small fore-and-aft sail similar to the main-sail of a schooner, which is called the boom-main-sail.

From Man on the Ocean A Book about Boats and Ships by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)