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The principal sail in a ship or other vessel. [They] hoised up the mainsail to the wind. Acts xxvii. 40.

To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; as, to balance the boom mainsail. Balanced valve. See Balance valve, under Balance, n.

o-masted, square-rigged vessel, differing from a brig in that she does not carry a square mainsail.

pendicularly on the side of a vessel, to aid in drawing down and securing the clew of the mainsail.

ight-draft, Dutch merchant vessel, carrying a mainmast and a mizzenmast, and a large gaff mainsail.

Said of a fore-and-aft rigged vessel with foresail set on one side and mainsail on the other; wing and wing.

To hoist. [Obs.] They . . . hoised up the mainsail to the wind. Acts xxvii. 40.

team Engine), working beam. -- Main boom (Naut.), the boom which extends the foot of the mainsail in a fore and aft vessel. -- Main brace. (a) (Mech.) The brace which resists the chief strain. Cf. Counter brace. (b) (Naut.) The brace attached to the main yard. -- Main center (Steam Engine), a shaft upon which a work…

The yard on which the mainsail is extended, supported by the mainmast.

One of the ropes by which the mainsail is hauled aft and trimmed.

f a sail. Slab line (Naut.), a line or small rope by which seamen haul up the foot of the mainsail or foresail. Totten.

A vessel having one mast and fore-and-aft rig, consisting of a boom-and-gaff mainsail, jibs, staysail, and gaff topsail. The typical sloop has a fixed bowsprit, topmast, and standing rigging, while those of a cutter are capable of being readily shifted. The sloop usually carries a centerboard, and depends for stability…

arried on a ship's foremast, probably on a lateen yard. Sailing always with the sheets of mainsail and trinket warily in our hands. Hakluyt.

schooner, or her sails, when going before the wind with the foresail on one side and the mainsail on the other; also said of a square-rigged vessel which has her studding sails set. Cf. Goosewinged. -- Wing case (Zoöl.), one of the anterior wings of beetles, and of some other insects, when thickened and used to prote…

ed vessel with a mainmast stepped a little farther forward than in a sloop and carrying a mainsail and jibs, with a jigger mast far aft, usually placed abaft the rudder post.