forestaysail

forestaysail [fawr-stey-seyl, fohr-; Nautical fawr-stey-suh l, fohr-] ExamplesWord Origin noun

1. a triangular sail set on a forestay; the innermost headsail of a vessel.

Origin of forestaysail First recorded in 1735–45; forestay + sail Examples from the Web for forestaysail Historical Examples of forestaysail

John had no resource but to put up a forestaysail, and run before the gale.

In Search of the Castaways

Jules Verne

It carried two jibs, besides the forestaysail, but these were now furled.

The Rival Campers

Ruel Perley Smith

I sailed comfortably on under the jib and forestaysail, which I now set.

Sailing Alone Around The World

Joshua Slocum

In old times the boats simply carried mainsail, foresail, and forestaysail and jib.

The Sea Rovers

Rufus Rockwell Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for forestaysail forestaysail noun

1. nautical the triangular headsail set aftermost on a vessel