Word of the Day
27 July 2026
topsail
A sail or either of the two sails rigged just above the course sail and supported by the topmast on a square-rigged sailing ship.
Why this one
Named for the mast it hangs on, not its height above deck. On larger ships the single topsail was split into upper and lower, which cut the size of any one sail a crew had to handle aloft.
In use
Wind's picking up, so we'll take in the upper topsail before it gets dark and leave the course set for now.
Written by our editors to show how the term is used, not a recorded quotation.Sources
- Definition sourceWiktionary