lateen sail

2 definitions found

lateen sail - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  lateen sail \lateen sail\ n. [F. voile latine a sail in the
     shape of a right-angled triangle; cf. It. & Sp. vela latina;
     properly Latin sail. See Latin.] (Naut.)
     A triangular sail, extended by a long yard, which is slung at
     about one fourth of its length from the lower end, to a low
     mast, this end being brought down at the tack, while the
     other end is elevated at an angle or about forty-five
     degrees; -- used in small boats, feluccas, xebecs, etc.,
     especially in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters. Some
     lateen sails have also a boom on the lower side.
     [1913 Webster]

lateen sail - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  lateen sail
      n 1: a triangular fore-and-aft sail used especially in the
           Mediterranean [syn: lateen, lateen sail]