Lugsails

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Four-cornered sails rigged on a sloping spar called a yard, commonly used on small traditional sailing boats
2. Quadrilateral canvas sails set at an angle along a long diagonal spar, typical of fishing craft and dhows
3. Sails of four sides hoisted on a tilted yard that is hung from a mast, favored for their easy handling

Etymology: "Lugsails" is the plural of "lugsail", a sail set on a yard that hangs at an angle to the mast rather than across it. The first part comes from "lug", a word for a projecting piece or handle, and the second is the ordinary word "sail". Taken together, the name describes a sail with an extra projection, the spar or yard that holds its upper edge.