Sail | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Sāil, n.

noun

n. [A-S. segel, segl, O. H. Ger. sekal, segal, N. H. Ger. & Sw. segel, L. Ger. segel, seil, D. zeil, Icel. segl, Dan. segl, seil, Pol. z’agiel, O. Fr. sigle, Ir. & Gael. seol, W. hewl.] 1. A texture spread to the wind, to assist the progress of a vessel in the water; a sheet of canvas or of some substitute, as matting, extended by means of masts, yards, ropes, &c., as a means of locomotion by the action of the wind upon it. “Behooves him now both sail and oar.” Milton.

Sails. 1, flying jib; 2, jib; 3, foretop-mast-stay sail; 4, fore-course; 5, foretop sail; 6, foretop-gallant sail; 7, fore-royal; 8, fore sky sail; 9, fore-royal studding sail; 10, foretop-gallant studding sail; 11, foretop-mast studding sail; 12, main-course; 13, maintop sail; 14, maintop-gallant sail; 15, main-royal; 16, main sky sail; 17, main-royal studding sail; 18, maintop-gallant studding sail; 19, maintop-mast studding sail; 20, mizzen-course; 21, mizzen-top sail; 22, mizzen-top-gallant sail; 23, mizzen-royal; 24, mizzen sky sail; 25, mizzen-spanker.

Sense 2. Hence, a wing; a van. [Poet.]

Like an eagle soaring To weather his broad sails. Spenser.

Sense 3. A sailing vessel; a ship of any kind; a craft. ☞ In this use, the plural has usually the same form as the singular.

Sense 4. A journey or excursion upon the water; a passage by a sailing vessel.

Shoulder-of-mutton sail (Naut.), a triangular sail, so called from the peculiarity of its form. It is chiefly used to set on a boat’s mast. Totten. — To loose sails, to unfurl them. — To make sail, to extend an additional quantity of sail. — To set sail, to expand or spread the sails; and 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.

A sailing ship with its sails numbered for identification. — Sails.

Sāil, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. SAILED; p. pr. & vb. n. SAILING.] [A-S. segelian, seglian, O. H. Ger. segelen, N. H. Ger. segeln, L. Ger. segeln, seilen, Icel. sigla, Sw. segla, Dan. seile, O. Fr. sigler. See supra.] 1. To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to move through the water; — said also of the motion of a swimming-bird, or of a fish. Little dolphins when they sail In the vast shadow of the British whale. Dryden.

To be conveyed in a vessel on water; to pass by water; as, they sailed from London to Canton.
To set sail; to begin a voyage.
To move smoothly through the air; to glide through the air without apparent exertion.

As is a winged messenger from heaven, When he bestrides the lazy, pacing clouds, And sails upon the bosom of the air. Shak.

Sāil, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To pass or move upon in a ship, by means of sails. A thousand ships were manned to sail the sea. Dryden. 2. To fly through. Sublime she sails The aërial space, and mounts the winged gales. Pope. 3. To direct or manage the motion of, as a vessel; as, to sail one's own ship. Totten.