topsail : Idioms & Phrases

• (Naut.), a kind of gaff topsail, used mostly by yachts having a fore-and-aft rig. It has a short "club" or "jack yard" to increase its spread.

Webster 1913

• noun a triangular fore-and-aft sail with its foot along the gaff and its luff on the topmast
  fore-and-aft topsail.
  

WordNet

• noun the topsail on a foremast
  

WordNet

Fore`-top"sail noun

Definitions

1. (Naut.) See Sail.

Webster 1913

• noun a triangular fore-and-aft sail with its foot along the gaff and its luff on the topmast
  fore-and-aft topsail.
  

WordNet

Gaff`-top"sail noun

Definitions

1. (Naut.) A small triangular sail having its foot extended upon the gaff and its luff upon the topmast.

Webster 1913

• (Naut.), a small jib set above and outside of all the other jibs.

Webster 1913

• noun a topsail set on the mainmast
  

WordNet

• . (Naut.) See Schooner, and Illustration in Appendix.

Webster 1913

• (Naut.), the upper half of a double topsail.

Webster 1913