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headsail

American

[hed-seyl, hed-suhl] / ˈhɛdˌseɪl, ˈhɛd səl /

noun

Nautical.

any of various jibs or staysails set forward of the foremost mast of a vessel.
any sail set on a foremast, especially on a vessel having three or more masts.

headsail British

/ ˈhɛdˌseɪl, ˈhɛdsəl /

noun

any sail set forward of the foremast

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of headsail

First recorded in 1620–30; head + sail

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.

To reduce wind resistance, they swapped out the pointy bowsprit between the boat's two hulls with a stubbier version, because the winds were too strong for the billowing headsail that attaches to it.

From Reuters • Sep. 29, 2013

Barely had the crewmen cleared the headsail when Gretel II nosed into a heavy wave that bucked Crewman Paul Salmon off the slippery deck.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Ease, ease!!" shouted Rex Herbert, headsail trimmer and yacht broker at Sparkman & Stephens Brokerage.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mal Parker aboard Peter Harrison's Sojana was helping to reef a headsail when his left arm was pulled into the winch, breaking it in two places.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Get forward, Harry, and claw that headsail off her."

From The Boy Ranchers of Puget Sound by Bindloss, Harold

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023