forestaysail

American  

[fawr-stey-seyl, fohr-, fawr-stey-suhl, fohr-] / ˌfɔrˈsteɪˌseɪl, ˌfoʊr-, ˌfɔrˈsteɪ səl, ˌfoʊr- /

noun

1. a triangular sail set on a forestay; the innermost headsail of a vessel.

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forestaysail British  

/ fɔːˈsteɪˌseɪl, fɔːˈsteɪsəl /

noun

1. nautical the triangular headsail set aftermost on a vessel

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Etymology

Origin of forestaysail

First recorded in 1735–45; forestay + sail

Example Sentences

Stuart jumped for the halyards, and the jib and the forestaysail came rippling down.

From "Stuart Little" by E.B. White

Blown away fore lower topsail, forestaysail, and carried away lifts to staysail.

From More Cargoes 1897 by Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark)

Every jib and forestaysail on board having now been torn out, the brig remained under close-reefed foretopsail, spencer, and spanker, and did little but drift to leeward.

From Overland by De Forest, J. W. (John William)

Then she went forward and did the same to the forestaysail.

From Wild Justice: Stories of the South Seas by Osbourne, Lloyd

On this they spread a spare forestaysail which they dug from the sail locker.

From The Adventure Club Afloat by Barbour, Ralph Henry