Staysails

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Large sails set on the main mast or a foremast to enhance stability and control of a sailing vessel
2. Additional sails employed to improve performance in various wind conditions
3. Equipment used in sailing to provide extra support and aid in maneuverability while on the water

Etymology: "Staysails" is the plural of "staysail," a sail hung on a stay, the taut rope or wire that braces a mast. The word is a plain compound of "stay" and "sail," and its history is a matter of the two parts it joins. A stay is a rope running fore-and-aft or diagonally from the top of a mast to the deck or another spar, holding the mast upright against the pull of the sails. Hanging a sail from that line gave the ship an extra piece of canvas that could be set in winds where the square sails were less useful. The sense of "stay" as a supporting rope is old in English, and it gave the ship's sail its name directly rather than through any change in meaning. The sails themselves took their names from the rigging they hung from, which is why the compound describes a specific placement rather than a particular shape or cut of cloth. A staysail is defined by where it is attached, not by what it looks like.