backwind
1 of 2noun
: a wind blowing onto the wrong side of a sail
especially : one directed upon a mainsail by a wrongly trimmed jib
backwind
2 of 2transitive verb
"
1
: to direct a backwind upon
a jib thus bellied is most apt to backwind the mainsail
2
: to sail to windward of (another sailing ship) so as to blanket or interfere with the wind
backwind his opponent in a yacht race
Word History
Etymology
Noun
back entry 3 + wind
First Known Use
Noun
1909, in the meaning defined above
Transitive Verb
1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1