— sailable , adj. — sailless , adj.
/sayl/ , n.
1. an area of canvas or other fabric extended to the wind in such a way as to transmit the force of the wind to an assemblage of spars and rigging mounted firmly on a hull, raft, iceboat, etc., so as to drive it along.
2. some similar piece or apparatus, as the part of an arm that catches the wind on a windmill.
3. a voyage or excursion, esp. in a sailing vessel: They went for a sail around the island.
4. a sailing vessel or ship.
5. sailing vessels collectively: The fleet numbered 30 sail.
6. sails for a vessel or vessels collectively.
7. ( cap. ) Astron. the constellation Vela.
8. in sail , with the sails set.
9. make sail , Naut.
a. to set the sail or sails of a boat or increase the amount of sail already set.
b. to set out on a voyage: Make sail for the Leeward Islands.
10. set sail , to start a sea voyage: We set sail at midnight for Nantucket.
11. trim one's sails , Informal. to cut expenses; economize: We're going to have to trim our sails if we stay in business.
12. under sail , with sails set; in motion; sailing: It was good to be under sail in the brisk wind and under the warm sun.
v.i.
13. to move along or travel over water: steamships sailing to Lisbon.
14. to manage a sailboat, esp. for sport.
15. to begin a journey by water: We are sailing at dawn.
16. to move along in a manner suggestive of a sailing vessel: caravans sailing along.
17. to move along in a stately, effortless way: to sail into a room.
v.t.
18. to sail upon, over, or through: to sail the seven seas.
19. to navigate (a vessel).
20. sail in or into , Informal.
a. to go vigorously into action; begin to act; attack.
b. to attack verbally: He would sail into his staff when work was going badly.
[ bef. 900; (n.) ME sail ( e ), seille, OE segl; c. G Segel, ON segl; (v.) ME seillen, saylen, OE siglan, seglian; c. D zeilen, ON sigla ]