topsail

2 definitions found

topsail - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Topsail \Top"sail`\, n. (Naut.)
     In a square-rigged vessel, the sail next above the lowermost
     sail on a mast. This sail is the one most frequently reefed
     or furled in working the ship. In a fore-and-aft rigged
     vessel, the sail set upon and above the gaff. See Cutter,
     Schooner, Sail, and Ship.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Topsail schooner. (Naut.) See Schooner, and Illustration
        in Appendix.
        [1913 Webster]

topsail - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  topsail
      n 1: a sail (or either of a pair of sails) immediately above the
           lowermost sail of a mast and supported by a topmast