fore-and-aft sail

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fore-and-aft sail¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Spencer, spens′ėr, n. (in ships and barques) a fore-and-aft sail abaft the fore and main masts.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Gybe, or Jibe, to; to shift over the boom of a fore-and-aft sail.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

The act of shifting over the boom of a fore-and-aft sail from one side of the vessel to the other.

From Project Gutenberg