Topsails

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of sail positioned higher on a mast, generally used to increase speed and control on sailing vessels
2. A sail located above the main sails that can be deployed for better sailing efficiency in favorable winds
3. The uppermost sails on a ship that enhance performance and maneuverability while navigating aquatic routes

Etymology: "Topsails" is the plural of "topsail," a compound that simply joins "top" and "sail," and the plain construction tells you most of its story. The term comes from Middle English, where it appeared in several spellings such as "topsayl" and "topseyle," and each element carries its original weight. "Top" is the high point, and "sail" is the cloth driven by wind. On a square-rigged ship, a topsail is the sail set on a mast above the lowest sail, the course, so it catches wind higher up the vessel. Sailors used the plural "topsails" to refer to the whole set of these upper sails at once, and the word's meaning follows directly from its place in the rigging.

Synonyms: sail, canvas, cloth