fore-and-aft sail

fore-and-aft sail
any of various sails, as jib-headed sails, gaff sails, lugsails, lateen sails, spritsails, staysails, and jibs, that do not set on yards and whose normal position, when not trimmed, is in a fore-and-aft direction amidships.
[1810-20]

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▪ sailing rig
      one of the two basic types of sailing rig, the other being the square sail. The fore-and-aft sail, now usually triangular, is set completely aft of a mast or stay, parallel to the ship's keel, and takes the wind on either side. The mainsail always has a boom, pivoted on the mast. Historically, it represented an important advance over the ancient square sail; it first appeared in the Mediterranean as the lateen sail. Full-rigged ships carried both types of sail; modern sport sailing craft carry fore-and-aft sails exclusively because of their ready maneuverability and facility in tacking into the wind. Compare lateen sail; square sail.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • fore-and-aft sail — noun any sail not set on a yard and whose normal position is in a fore and aft direction • Hypernyms: ↑sail, ↑canvas, ↑canvass, ↑sheet • Hyponyms: ↑gaffsail, ↑gaff headed sail, ↑gaff topsail, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • fore-and-aft sail — /fɔr ən aft ˈseɪl/ (say fawr uhn ahft sayl) noun any sail not set on a yard, usually bent to a gaff or set on a stay in the centre line. See sail (def. 1) …  

  • fore-and-aft sails — Sail Sail, n. [OE. seil, AS. segel, segl; akin to D. zeil, OHG. segal, G. & Sw. segel, Icel. segl, Dan. seil. [root] 153.] 1. An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fore-and-aft — adjective parallel with the keel of a boat or ship • Similar to: ↑lengthwise, ↑lengthways • Topics: ↑seafaring, ↑navigation, ↑sailing * * * | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ adjective Etymolog …   Useful english dictionary

  • fore-and-aft topsail — noun a triangular fore and aft sail with its foot along the gaff and its luff on the topmast • Syn: ↑gaff topsail • Hypernyms: ↑fore and aft sail …   Useful english dictionary

  • fore and aft — ► ADVERB 1) at the front and rear. 2) backwards and forwards. ► ADJECTIVE 1) backwards and forwards. 2) (of a sail or rigging) set lengthwise, not on the yards …   English terms dictionary

  • Fore-and-aft rig — A fore and aft rig is a sailing rig consisting mainly of sails that are set along the line of the keel rather than perpendicular to it. Such sails are described as fore and aft rigged.Fore and aft rigged sails include Staysails, Bermuda rigged… …   Wikipedia

  • fore-and-aftsail — fore and aft sail n. A sail set parallel with the keel of a vessel, having the foremost edge or luff attached to the mast with travelers and the upper edge set on a gaff or stay. * * * …   Universalium

  • fore and aft — adverb at the front and rear. adjective 1》 backwards and forwards. 2》 (of a sail or rigging) set lengthwise, not on the yards …   English new terms dictionary

  • fore-and-aft-rigged — adjective a) (of a ship) having its main sails rigged onto spars or stays parallel to the keel b) (of a sail) being rigged in this manner …   Wiktionary

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