| 释义 |
topsail Naut.|ˈtɒpseɪl, ˈtɒps(ə)l|
[f. top n.1 9 + sail n. So LG. toppsegel.]
A sail set above the lower course, orig. the uppermost sail (cf. topgallant A. 1). In a square-rigged vessel, orig. a single square sail set next above the lower sail or yard; now, in larger ships, divided for convenience in handling into an upper topsail and a lower topsail (double topsails). In a fore-and-aft rig, a square or triangular sail set above the gaff.
1390[see d]. [ 1399Langl. Rich. Redeles iv. 72 They bente on a bonet, and bare a topte saile Affor þe wynde ffresshely to make a good ffare.] c1420? Lydg. Assembly of Gods 129 [Eolus] With hys boystous blast,..other whyle he brak top seyle and mast. 15..Sir A. Barton in Surtees Misc. (1888) 67 Full soone he let his toppe-saill fall. 1622R. Hawkins Voy. S. Sea (1847) 126 Bearing up before the winde wee put out our topsayles and spritsayles. 1674Lond. Gaz. No. 891/4 He met..with part of the Dutch Fleet,..having with them a Vice-Admiral, who upon sight of the Fregat lowred his Flag and Topsails, and saluted. 1762Falconer Shipwr. i. 361 The topsails low'r and form a single reef. 1820Scoresby Acc. Arctic Reg. I. 402 The ship could only bear close-reefed topsails and courses. 1860Maury Phys. Geog. Sea (Low) xix. §807 At 8 p.m. took in fore and mizen top-sails.
b. fig. esp. in to hoist, lower, strike the topsail.
a1629Hinde J. Bruen xli. (1641) 128 For the practice and power of Religion, the very Topsaile of all England. 1745J. Mason Self Knowl. i. vii. (1853) 53 The Sin, to which not our Vertues only, but Vices too, lower their Topsail, and submit. 1805Southey Madoc in W. xv. 114 You may tell Your Pope, that..I shall not strike a topsail for the breath Of all his maledictions!
†c. Phrases, etc. (a) topsails over (also simply topsail), head over heels, topsy-turvy. topsail walten, upside down. (b) with topsail, with topsails set; under all sail, in full career. Obs.
Those in (a) may have some bearing upon topsy-turvy.
(a)c1400Destr. Troy 1219 Mony turnyt with tene top⁓sayles ouer, Þat hurlet to þe hard vrthe, & þere horse leuyt. c1400Sege Jerus. 706 Þe lered men of þe lawe a litel bynyþe Weren tourmented on a tre, topsail walten. c1430Chev. Assigne 320 And eyther of hem so smerlye smote other,..And eyther of hem topseyle tumbledde to y⊇ erthe.
(b)c1400Sc. Trojan War ii. 1963 Tharfor with topsall all & sum Vpon þe craggis suld cum.
d. attrib. and Comb., of or pertaining to the topsail, as topsail halyard, topsail sheet, topsail truss, topsail yard; carrying a topsail or topsails, as topsail barge, topsail schooner, topsail vessel; allowing a vessel to carry topsails, as topsail breeze, † topsail cole, topsail gale.
(With topsail cole cf. quots. under cool n.1 2.)
1390Gower Conf. II. 231 The wynd stod thanne noght amis Bot evene topseilcole it blew. Ibid. III. 338 Thei hadden wynd at wille tho, With topseilcole and forth they go. 1549Compl. Scot. vi. 41 Hail on ȝour top sail scheitis, vir..ȝour top sail trossis,..hail out the top sail boulene. 1673Lond. Gaz. No. 807/4 The Wind has been all this day between the South and the South-West, a fine Topsail Gale. 1711W. Sutherland Shipbuild. Assist. 109 Top-sail Yards [are] 5/9 of the Main-yards.., the Top-gallant Yards ½ the Top-sail Yards. 1796Morse Amer. Geog. I. 766 The number of top-sail vessels..is about 150. 1840R. H. Dana Bef. Mast ii, The topsail halyards had been let go. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Topsail-schooner, is full schooner-rigged, but carries a square-topsail on the foremast. |