Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
downhaul [doun-hawl] ExamplesWord Origin noun Nautical.
- any of various lines for pulling down a sail or a yard, as for securing in a lowered position when not in use.
Origin of downhaul First recorded in 1660–70; down1 + haul Examples from the Web for downhaul Historical Examples of downhaul
Her yard and boom were in his linhay, the sheet and downhaul in Tony’s.
Stephen Sydney Reynolds
The hands “walked away” with the downhaul, and the jib was on the bowsprit in an instant.
Oliver Optic
Haul out on the downhaul, hoisting and lowering on the halyards.
Richard Henry Dana
Small sized vessels have no downhaul to the topgallant studdingsails.
Richard Henry Dana
To hoist it, let go the downhaul and royal stay, and haul on the halyards.
Richard Henry Dana
British Dictionary definitions for downhaul downhaul noun
- nautical a line for hauling down a sail or for increasing the tension at its luff