Lateen vs. Sail — What's the Difference?

A lateen (from French latine, meaning "Latin") or latin-rig is a triangular sail set on a long yard mounted at an angle on the mast, and running in a fore-and-aft direction. Dating back to Roman navigation, the lateen became the favorite sail of the Age of Discovery, mainly because it allows a boat to tack "against the wind".

A sail is a tensile structure—made from fabric or other membrane materials—that uses wind power to propel sailing craft, including sailing ships, sailboats, windsurfers, ice boats, and even sail-powered land vehicles. Sails may be made from a combination of woven materials—including canvas or polyester cloth, laminated membranes or bonded filaments—usually in a three- or four-sided shape.

Being, relating to, or rigged with a triangular sail hung on a long yard that is attached at an angle to the top of a short mast.

A piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship or other vessel

A lateen-rigged boat.

A wind-catching apparatus attached to the arm of a windmill.

A lateen sail.

A voyage or excursion in a ship, especially a sailing ship or boat

(nautical) A triangular fore-and-aft sail set on a boom in such way that the tack is attached to the hull of the vessel and the free end of the boom lifts the sail.

The conning tower of a submarine.

Of or pertaining to a peculiar rig used in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters, esp. on the northern coast of Africa; pertaining to a lateen sail. See below.

A canvas sheet or tarpaulin

Rigged with a triangular (lateen sail).

Travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation

A triangular fore-and-aft sail used especially in the Mediterranean

Move smoothly and rapidly or in a stately or confident manner

Rigged with a triangular (lateen) sail

A piece of fabric sewn together and fitted to the spars and rigging of a vessel so as to convert the force of the wind into forward motion of the vessel.

The sails of a ship or boat.

A narrow fairwater supporting the bridge of a submarine.

Pl. sail or sails Nautical A sailing vessel.

(Nautical) A trip or voyage in a sailing craft.

Something, such as the blade of a windmill, that resembles a sail in form or function.

To move across the surface of water, especially by means of a sailing vessel.

To travel by water in a vessel.

To start out on such a voyage or journey

To operate a sailing craft, especially for sport.

To move along or progress smoothly or effortlessly

To move along through the air

To navigate or manage (a vessel).

To voyage upon or across

(nautical) A piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along. The sail may be attached to the boat via a combination of mast, spars and ropes.

The concept of a sail or sails, as if a substance.

(uncountable) The power harnessed by a sail or sails, or the use of this power for travel or transport.

A trip in a boat, especially a sailboat.

A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.

(nautical) The conning tower of a submarine.

The blade of a windmill.

A tower-like structure found on the dorsal (topside) surface of submarines.

The floating organ of siphonophores, such as the Portuguese man-of-war.

(fishing) A sailfish.

(paleontology) an outward projection of the spine, occurring in certain dinosaurs and synapsids

Anything resembling a sail, such as a wing.

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 steam or other power.

To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a waterfowl.

To ride in a boat, especially a sailboat.

(intransitive) To set sail; to begin a voyage.

To move briskly and gracefully through the air.

(intransitive) To move briskly but sedately.

To deal out (cards) from a distance by impelling them across a surface.

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.

Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.

A wing; a van.

The extended surface of the arm of a windmill.

A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.

A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon the water.

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.

To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a water fowl.

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

To set sail; to begin a voyage.

To move smoothly through the air; to glide through the air without apparent exertion, as a bird.

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.

To fly through; to glide or move smoothly through.

To direct or manage the motion of, as a vessel; as, to sail one's own ship.

A large piece of fabric (as canvas) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel

An ocean trip taken for pleasure

Traverse or travel by ship on (a body of water);

Move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions;

Travel in a boat propelled by wind;

Travel by boat on a boat propelled by wind or by other means;