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spinnaker
noun
spin·na·ker
ˈspi-ni-kər
: a large triangular sail set on a long light pole and used when running before the wind
Examples of spinnaker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This time, with the wind at our back, Henke unfurled a royal-blue spinnaker, a lightweight three-cornered sail perfect for the present wind conditions.
—Ingrid K. Williams, New York Times, 25 July 2023
Two instructors, competitive sailors though barely older, demonstrated how to attach a lightweight spinnaker to sail off wind.
—Joanna Daemmrich, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2022
The way his majestic purple mohair coat (circa 1960) uses straight and bias grain to take weight off the shoulders and let the back sail like a spinnaker is stunning.
—Laura Jacobs, WSJ, 15 June 2022
The mid-tach torque comes on like the tug of a filling spinnaker (310 lb-ft at 1,900 rpm).
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 27 Jan. 2022
Our readers are obsessed with the Coopers Town Stripe Quarter Zip Pullover, which is available in gray and spinnaker.
—Courtney Campbell, USA TODAY, 14 Aug. 2020
Team Vineyard Vines is traveling from Connecticut, with a giant pink whale on its spinnaker sail.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland.com, 11 Sep. 2019
Mafia Deep Blue Bag Best for: Vacationing sea monsters
The shell of the Deep Blue gets its crinkly feel from recycled spinnaker sails.
—Michael Calore, WIRED, 9 July 2018
The boat heels suddenly while the crew lets out a ballooning spinnaker to catch even more wind as Team Brunel swerves to within a few meters of a competitor.
—Time, 16 Feb. 2018
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Word History
Etymology
origin unknown
First Known Use
1866, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near spinnaker
Cite this Entry
“Spinnaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spinnaker. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
spinnaker
noun
spin·na·ker
ˈspin-i-kər
: a large triangular sail set on a long light pole and used when sailing with the wind pushing from behind or nearly so
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