Definition of To shorten sail. Meaning of To shorten sail. Synonyms of To shorten sail

Here you will find one or more explanations in English for the word To shorten sail. Also in the bottom left of the page several parts of wikipedia pages related to the word To shorten sail and, of course, To shorten sail synonyms and on the right images related to the word To shorten sail.

Definition of To shorten sail

To shorten sail
Shorten Short"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shortened ?; p. pr. & vb. n. Shortening.] [See Short, a.] 1. To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as, to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of calamity. 2. To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen; to abridge; to curtail; to contract; as, to shorten work, an allowance of food, etc. Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain. --Dryden. 3. To make deficient (as to); to deprive; -- with of. Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears. --Dryden. 4. To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, pot liquor, or the like. To shorten a rope (Naut.), to take in the slack of it. To shorten sail (Naut.), to reduce sail by taking it in.

Meaning of To shorten sail from wikipedia

- sail may have several reef bands to shorten sail to different degrees. Brail Glossary of nautical terms (M-Z) Bingham, Bruce (20 May 2015). "How to Reef...
- fractional sloop rig to take these rigging loads, so is not well suited for lightly built boats. A major disadvantage is that, to shorten sail, the jib must...
- prepared for action, and shortened sail to "fighting sail", i.e. topsails and jibs only. As Constitution closed, Dacres first hove to to fire a broadside, which...
- ships to overtake the slower of the Dutch fugitives, but remained in squadron. At around 9pm, Sandwich even ordered his squadron to shorten sail so that...
- watch reported a boat ahead, and Captain FitzRoy ordered "hands up, shorten sail". Using a speaking trumpet he questioned Neptune, who would visit them...
- shorten 1.  To take in the slack of (a rope). 2.  To reduce (sail) by taking it in, e.g. "shorten sail". shot across the bow A shot fired close to and...
- French to attack. As the French shortened sail, the English ships gained the windward position and attacked. Meanwhile, de Burgh's flagship sailed independently...
- Dutch navigators of the Tappan Zee, and where they always prudently shortened sail and implored the protection of St. Nicholas when they crossed, there...
- and five other ships of the line to chase. Towards dusk, the strangers hoisted French colours but did not shorten sail, and they were not overtaken till...
- then shortened sail and the two began a stubborn engagement, each trying to wreck the spars, sails and rigging of the other until the damage to the tops...