topsail

A square sail set above the lowest sail on the mast of a square-rigged ship.

A triangular or square sail set above the gaff of a lower sail on a fore-and-aft-rigged ship.

Same as topsails over (which see, under topsail, n.).

Nautical, a square sail next above the lowest or chief sail of a mast. It is carried on a topsail-yard.

In a square-rigged vessel, the sail next above the lowermost sail on a mast. This sail is the one most frequently reefed or furled in working the ship. In a fore-and-aft rigged vessel, the sail set upon and above the gaff. See cutter, schooner, sail, and ship.

See Schooner, and Illustration in Appendix.

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.

In a fore-and-aft -rigged sailing boat, the sail that is set above the gaff at the top part of the mast.

a sail (or either of a pair of sails) immediately above the lowermost sail of a mast and supported by a topmast