topsail

Etymology

From Middle English topsail, topsayl, topseyle, topsaill, equivalent to top + sail.

noun

  1. (nautical) A sail or either of the two sails rigged just above the course sail and supported by the topmast on a square-rigged sailing ship.
  2. (nautical) In a fore-and-aft-rigged sailing boat, the sail that is set above the gaff at the top part of the mast.

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