riding sail

noun

, Nautical.

1. a triangular sail set on the aftermost mast of a vessel, especially a fishing vessel, to head it into the wind; trysail.

Example Sentences

The big sails were lowered and only a riding sail spread to keep the Hattie G. on an even keel.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, when she had recovered her breath, she pointed out the places of interest to be seen from the tower–the smoke of Westhampton to the north; Fuller’s Island, with its white sands and gleaming green lawns and clumps of wind-blown trees; the long strip of winding coast southward, like a ribbon laid down for the sea to wash, and far, far to the east, over the tumbling waves, still boisterous with the swell of last night’s storm, the white riding sail of the lightship on No Man’s Shoal.

From Project Gutenberg

In its place was bent on a riding sail, for until 100 their salt was all wet there would be very little occasion for any sort of sailing, their only progress being as they ambled leisurely from berth to berth.

From Project Gutenberg

In the midst of all this Code Schofield struggled aft and began hauling forth the mains’l that at the first edge of the Bank had been relegated in favor of the triangular riding sail.

From Project Gutenberg

Under headsails and riding sail the Rosan swung into the light air that stirred the fog and began to crawl forward while the men were still cat-heading the anchor.

From Project Gutenberg