资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sail \Sail\, n. [OE. seil, AS. segel, segl; akin to D. zeil,
   OHG. segal, G. & Sw. segel, Icel. segl, Dan. seil. [root]
   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.

            Behoves him now both sail and oar.    --Milton.

   2. Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.

   3. A wing; a van. [Poetic]

            Like an eagle soaring To weather his broad sails.
                                                  --Spenser.

   4. The extended surface of the arm of a windmill.

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

   Note: In this sense, the plural has usually the same form as
         the singular; as, twenty sail were in sight.

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

   Note: 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}.

   {Sail burton} (Naut.), a purchase for hoisting sails aloft
      for bending.

   {Sail fluke} (Zo["o]l.), 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.


       (c) To separate by a blow or any sudden action; as, to
           strike off what is superfluous or corrupt.

   {To strike oil}, to find petroleum when boring for it;
      figuratively, to make a lucky hit financially. [Slang,
      U.S.]

   {To strike one luck}, to shake hands with one and wish good
      luck. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.

   {To strike out}.
       (a) To produce by collision; to force out, as, to strike
           out sparks with steel.
       (b) To blot out; to efface; to erase. ``To methodize is
           as necessary as to strike out.'' --Pope.
       (c) To form by a quick effort; to devise; to invent; to
           contrive, as, to strike out a new plan of finance.
       (d) (Baseball) To cause a player to strike out; -- said
           of the pitcher. See {To strike out}, under {Strike},
           v. i.

   {To strike sail}. See under {Sail}.

   {To strike up}.
       (a) To cause to sound; to begin to beat. ``Strike up the
           drums.'' --Shak.
       (b) To begin to sing or play; as, to strike up a tune.
       (c) To raise (as sheet metal), in making diahes, pans,
           etc., by blows or pressure in a die.

   {To strike work}, to quit work; to go on a strike.