Sail /(?)/

Sail

n.
  1. An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels through the water.
    Behoves him now both sail and oar.
  2. Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.
  3. A wing; a van. [Poetic]
    Like an eagle soaring To weather his broad sails.
  4. The extended surface of the arm of a windmill.
  5. A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.
  6. A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon the water.

Phrases & Compounds
Sail burton
a purchase for hoisting sails aloft for bending.
Sail fluke
the whiff.
Sail hook
a small hook used in making sails, to hold the seams square.
Sail loft
a loft or room where sails are cut out and made.
Sail room
a room in a vessel where sails are stowed when not in use.
Sail yard
the yard or spar on which a sail is extended.
Shoulder-of-mutton sail
a triangular sail of peculiar form. It is chiefly used to set on a boat's mast.
To crowd sail
See under Crowd.
To loose sails
to unfurl or spread sails.
To make sail
to extend an additional quantity of sail.
To set a sail
to extend or spread a sail to the wind.
To set sail
to unfurl or spread the sails; hence, to begin a voyage.
To shorten sail
to reduce the extent of sail, or take in a part.
To strike sail
to lower the sails suddenly, as in saluting, or in sudden gusts of wind; hence, to acknowledge inferiority; to abate pretension.
Under sail
having the sails spread.

Sail

v. i.

imp. & p. p. Sailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sailing

  1. To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by the action of steam or other power.
  2. To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a water fowl.
  3. To be conveyed in a vessel on water; to pass by water; as, they sailed from London to Canton.
  4. To set sail; to begin a voyage.
  5. To move smoothly through the air; to glide through the air without apparent exertion, as a bird.
    As is a winged messenger of heaven, . . . When he bestrides the lazy pacing clouds, And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Sail

v. t.
  1. To pass or move upon, as in a ship, by means of sails; hence, to move or journey upon (the water) by means of steam or other force.
    A thousand ships were manned to sail the sea.
  2. To fly through; to glide or move smoothly through.
    Sublime she sails The aerial space, and mounts the wingèd gales.
  3. To direct or manage the motion of, as a vessel; as, to sail one's own ship.