n. [ OE. seil, AS. segel, segl; akin to D. zeil, OHG. segal, G. & Sw. segel, Icel. segl, Dan. seil. √ 153. ] 1. An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels through the water. [ 1913 Webster ]

Behoves him now both sail and oar. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A wing; a van. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Like an eagle soaring
To weather his broad sails. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The extended surface of the arm of a windmill. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense, the plural has usually the same form as the singular; as, twenty sail were in sight. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon the water. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Sails are of two general kinds, fore-and-aft sails, and square sails. Square sails are always bent to yards, with their foot lying across the line of the vessel. Fore-and-aft sails are set upon stays or gaffs with their foot in line with the keel. A fore-and-aft sail is triangular, or quadrilateral with the after leech longer than the fore leech. Square sails are quadrilateral, but not necessarily square. See Phrases under Fore, a., and Square, a.; also, Bark, Brig, Schooner, Ship, Stay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sail burton (Naut.), a purchase for hoisting sails aloft for bending. --
Sail fluke (Zool.), the whiff. --
Sail hook, a small hook used in making sails, to hold the seams square. --
Sail loft, a loft or room where sails are cut out and made. --
Sail room (Naut.), a room in a vessel where sails are stowed when not in use. --
Sail yard (Naut.), the yard or spar on which a sail is extended. --
Shoulder-of-mutton sail (Naut.), a triangular sail of peculiar form. It is chiefly used to set on a boat's mast. --
To crowd sail. (Naut.) See under Crowd. --
To loose sails (Naut.), to unfurl or spread sails. --
To make sail (Naut.), to extend an additional quantity of sail. --
To set a sail (Naut.), to extend or spread a sail to the wind. --
To set sail (Naut.), to unfurl or spread the sails; hence, to begin a voyage. --
To shorten sail (Naut.), to reduce the extent of sail, or take in a part. --
To strike sail (Naut.), to lower the sails suddenly, as in saluting, or in sudden gusts of wind; hence, to acknowledge inferiority; to abate pretension. --
Under sail, having the sails spread. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To pass or move upon, as in a ship, by means of sails; hence, to move or journey upon (the water) by means of steam or other force. [ 1913 Webster ]

A thousand ships were manned to sail the sea. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fly through; to glide or move smoothly through. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sublime she sails
The aerial space, and mounts the wingèd gales. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To direct or manage the motion of, as a vessel; as, to sail one's own ship. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Sailed p. pr. & vb. n. Sailing. ] [ AS. segelian, seglian. See Sail, n. ] 1. To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by the action of steam or other power. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a water fowl. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be conveyed in a vessel on water; to pass by water; as, they sailed from London to Canton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To set sail; to begin a voyage. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To move smoothly through the air; to glide through the air without apparent exertion, as a bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

As is a winged messenger of heaven, . . .
When he bestrides the lazy pacing clouds,
And sails upon the bosom of the air. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being sailed over; navigable; as, a sailable river. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A boat propelled by a sail or sails. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Duck or canvas used in making sails. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A sailor. [ R. ] Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A ship or other vessel; -- with qualifying words descriptive of speed or manner of sailing; as, a heavy sailer; a fast sailer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) The banner fish, or spikefish (Histiophorus.) (b) The basking, or liver, shark. (c) The quillback. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of one who, or that which, sails; the motion of a vessel on water, impelled by wind or steam; the act of starting on a voyage. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) The art of managing a vessel; seamanship; navigation; as, globular sailing; oblique sailing. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ For the several methods of sailing, see under Circular, Globular, Oblique, Parallel, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sailing master (U. S. Navy), formerly, a warrant officer, ranking next below a lieutenant, whose duties were to navigate the vessel; and under the direction of the executive officer, to attend to the stowage of the hold, to the cables, rigging, etc. The grade was merged in that of master in 1862. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of sails. Pollok. [ 1913 Webster ]