| 释义 |
mainsail Naut.|ˈmeɪnseɪl, ˈmeɪns(ə)l|
[See main a. 10.]
The principal sail of a ship. a. In square-rigged vessels, the sail which is bent to the main-yard. b. In fore-and-aft rigged vessels, the sail which is set on the after part of the mainmast.
1485Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 40 Mayne sailes. c1515Cocke Lorell's B. (Percy Soc.) 12 Some howysed the mayne sayle. 1526Tindale Acts xxvii. 40 They..hoysed vppe the mayne sayle to the wynde. 1626Capt. Smith Accid. Yng. Seamen 6 The Younkers are the yong men called Fore⁓mast men, to..Furle, and Sling the maine Saile. 1772–84Cook Voy. (1790) I. 151 It blew a storm from the east,..which compelled us to bring the ship to, under her mainsail. 1783Wolcot (P. Pindar) Odes to R. A.'s vii. Wks. 1812 I. 65 Broad as the Mainsail of a man of war. 1794Rigging & Seamanship II. 319 Raise tacks and sheets, and main sail haul. 1835Sir J. Ross Narr. 2nd Voy. iii. 33 The close-reefed mainsail. 1873Black Pr. Thule (1874) 5 There was just enough wind to catch the brown mainsail.
attrib.1549Compl. Scotl. vi. 40 Hail out the mane sail boulene.
fig.1579Fulke Heskins' Parl. 29 He inueyeth with mayn sayle of open rayling against the people. |