spritsail

noun

sprit·​sail ˈsprit-ˌsāl How to pronounce spritsail (audio) -səl How to pronounce spritsail (audio)
1
: a sail extended by a sprit
2
: a sail formerly set on a yard beneath the bowsprit

Examples of spritsail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Strong contrasts of light and dark heighten the drama, most emphatically in the juxtaposition of the brilliantly lighted, tawny spritsail with the dark, billowing clouds looming behind it. Arthur Wheelock, WSJ, 27 Aug. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spritsail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spritsail was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near spritsail

Cite this Entry

“Spritsail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spritsail. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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