Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
fore-topsail [fohr-top-seyl, fawr-; Nautical fohr-top-suh l, fawr-] ExamplesWord Origin noun
- a topsail set on a foremast on a ship.
Origin of fore-topsail First recorded in 1575–85 Examples from the Web for fore-topsail Historical Examples of fore-topsail
The foresail and fore-topsail we managed to save, but all our light canvass went.
James Fenimore Cooper
We next tried the fore-topsail, close-reefed, and this stood.
James Fenimore Cooper
The fore-topsail had been mended as well as the foresail, and was set anew.
James Fenimore Cooper
They loosed the fore-topsail and they set the foretopmast staysail.
Thomas Stanley Treanor
Closely reef the fore-topsail,” he added; “man the fore-topsail braces.
W.H.G. Kingston
British Dictionary definitions for fore-topsail fore-topsail noun
- nautical a sail set on a fore-topmast