Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
brail [breyl] ExamplesWord Origin noun
- Nautical. any of several horizontal lines fastened to the edge of a fore-and-aft sail or lateen sail, for gathering in the sail.
- a leather binding for a hawk’s wings, to prohibit flight.
verb (used with object)
- Nautical.
- to gather or haul in (a sail) by means of brails (usually followed by up).
- to transfer (fish) from a net to the hold of a ship.
- to bind (the wings of a bird) in order to prevent it from flying.
Origin of brail 1400–50; late Middle English, variant of brayell Anglo-French braiel; Old French Medieval Latin brācāle breechbelt, noun use of neuter of brācālis, equivalent to Latin brāc(ae) trousers (Gaulish) + -ālis -al1 Related formsun·brailed, adjective Examples from the Web for brail Historical Examples of brail
I exclaimed; “and stand by to brail up the mizzen if she fails to pay off.”
Harry Collingwood
Man the braces fore and aft; square away the yards and brail in the mizen.
Harry Collingwood
He had taken his mother to Brail once, and she had been much pleased with the village.
Rosa Nouchette Carey
Well, has not Mr Brail told you you might stay if you choose?
The Cruise of the Midge (Vol. I of 2)
Michael Scott
Come now, Brail, no quizzing, if you please; I am deuced weak yet.
The Cruise of the Midge (Vol. I of 2)
Michael Scott
British Dictionary definitions for brail brail noun
- one of several lines fastened to the leech of a fore-and-aft sail to aid in furling it
verb
- (tr sometimes foll by up) to furl (a fore-and-aft sail) using brails
Word Origin for brail C15: from Old French braiel, from Medieval Latin brācāle belt for breeches, from Latin brāca breeches Word Origin and History for brail n.
small rope used on ships, mid-15c., from Old French brail, earlier braiel “belt, leather thong,” from Latin bracale “waistbelt,” from bracæ “breeches” (plural, see breeches).