forestaysail

[ fawr-stey-seyl, fohr-; Nautical fawr-stey-suh l, fohr- ]
/ ˌfɔrˈsteɪˌseɪl, ˌfoʊr-; Nautical ˌfɔrˈsteɪ səl, ˌfoʊr- /

noun

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

Origin of forestaysail

First recorded in 1735–45; forestay + sail

Words nearby forestaysail

forestaff, forestage, forestall, forestation, forestay, forestaysail, forester, forestick, forestland, forestry, forestville

Example sentences from the Web for forestaysail

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

    In Search of the Castaways |Jules Verne

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

    Sailing Alone Around The World |Joshua Slocum

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

    The Rival Campers |Ruel Perley Smith

  • 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
/ (fɔːˈsteɪˌseɪl, nautical fɔːˈsteɪsəl) /

noun

nautical the triangular headsail set aftermost on a vessel