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Sail vs. Topsail — What's the Difference?

Sail vs. Topsail — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Sail and Topsail

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Sail

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.

Topsail

A topsail ("tops'l") is a sail set above another sail; on square-rigged vessels further sails may be set above topsails.

Sail

A piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship or other vessel
All the sails were unfurled
The boat can no longer carry that area of sail

Topsail

A square sail set above the lowest sail on the mast of a square-rigged sailing vessel.

Sail

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

A triangular or square sail set above the gaff of a lower sail on a fore-and-aft-rigged sailing vessel.

Sail

A voyage or excursion in a ship, especially a sailing ship or boat
They went for a sail

Topsail

(nautical) A sail or either of the two sails rigged just above the course sail and supported by the topmast on a square-rigged sailing ship.

Sail

The conning tower of a submarine.

Topsail

(nautical) In a fore-and-aft-rigged sailing boat, the sail that is set above the gaff at the top part of the mast.

Sail

A canvas sheet or tarpaulin
The sail covering the load of crates broke loose from the truck

Topsail

In a square-rigged vessel, the sail next above the lowermost sail on a mast. This sail is the one most frequently reefed or furled in working the ship. In a fore-and-aft rigged vessel, the sail set upon and above the gaff. See Cutter, Schooner, Sail, and Ship.

Sail

Travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation
Ian took us out sailing on the lake

Topsail

A sail (or either of a pair of sails) immediately above the lowermost sail of a mast and supported by a topmast

Sail

Move smoothly and rapidly or in a stately or confident manner
The ball sailed inside the right-hand post

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.

Sail

The sails of a ship or boat.

Sail

A narrow fairwater supporting the bridge of a submarine.

Sail

Pl. sail or sails Nautical A sailing vessel.

Sail

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

Sail

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

Sail

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

Sail

To travel by water in a vessel.

Sail

To start out on such a voyage or journey
Tomorrow we sail for the islands.

Sail

To operate a sailing craft, especially for sport.

Sail

To move along or progress smoothly or effortlessly
Sailed into the room five minutes late.
Sailed through the exam.
Sailed through the red light.

Sail

To move along through the air
The ball sailed into the stands.

Sail

To navigate or manage (a vessel).

Sail

To voyage upon or across
Sail the Pacific.

Sail

(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.

Sail

The concept of a sail or sails, as if a substance.
Take in sail: a storm is coming.

Sail

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

Sail

A trip in a boat, especially a sailboat.
Let's go for a sail.

Sail

A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.
Twenty sail were in sight.

Sail

(nautical) The conning tower of a submarine.

Sail

The blade of a windmill.

Sail

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

Sail

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

Sail

(fishing) A sailfish.
We caught three sails today.

Sail

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

Sail

Anything resembling a sail, such as a wing.

Sail

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.

Sail

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

Sail

To ride in a boat, especially a sailboat.

Sail

(intransitive) To set sail; to begin a voyage.
We sail for Australia tomorrow.

Sail

To move briskly and gracefully through the air.

Sail

(intransitive) To move briskly but sedately.
The duchess sailed haughtily out of the room.

Sail

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

Sail

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.
Behoves him now both sail and oar.

Sail

Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.

Sail

A wing; a van.
Like an eagle soaringTo weather his broad sails.

Sail

The extended surface of the arm of a windmill.

Sail

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

Sail

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

Sail

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.

Sail

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

Sail

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

Sail

To set sail; to begin a voyage.

Sail

To move smoothly through the air; to glide through the air without apparent exertion, as a bird.
As is a winged messenger of heaven, . . .When he bestrides the lazy pacing clouds,And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Sail

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.
A thousand ships were manned to sail the sea.

Sail

To fly through; to glide or move smoothly through.
Sublime she sailsThe aërial space, and mounts the wingèd gales.

Sail

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

Sail

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

Sail

An ocean trip taken for pleasure

Sail

Traverse or travel by ship on (a body of water);
We sailed the Atlantic
He sailed the Pacific all alone

Sail

Move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions;
The diva swept into the room
Shreds of paper sailed through the air
The searchlights swept across the sky

Sail

Travel in a boat propelled by wind;
I love sailing, especially on the open sea

Sail

Travel by boat on a boat propelled by wind or by other means;
The QE2 will sail to Southampton tomorrow

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