topsailn.
/ˈtɒpseɪl/, /ˈtɒpsl/, /ˈtɒps(ə)l/, U.S. /ˈtɑpsəl/, /ˈtɑpˌseɪl/ Nautical. † 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. Obsolete.Those in (a) may have some bearing upon topsy-turvy adv., adj., n., and v.
a. A sail set above the lower course, originally the uppermost sail (cf. topgallant n. 1). In a square-rigged vessel, originally 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.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > masts, rigging, or sails > sail > [noun] > topsail
topsail1390
tall-saila1450
top1513
1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles iv. 72 They bente on a bonet, and bare a topte saile Affor þe wynde ffresshely to make a good ffare.]
13901 [see Compounds]. c1420 J. Lydgate Assembly of Gods 129 [Eolus] With hys boystous blast,..other whyle he brak top seyle and mast.
a1600 Sir A. Barton in Surtees Misc. (1888) 67 Full soone he let his toppe-saill fall.
1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea xxxiv. 83 Bearing vp before the winde, wee put out our Topsayles and Spritsayles.
1674 London 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.
1762 W. Falconer Shipwreck i. 15 The topsails low'r, and form a single reef.
1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions I. 402 The ship could only bear close-reefed topsails and courses.
1860 M. F. Maury Physical Geogr. Sea (ed. 8) xix. §807 At 8 p.m. took in fore and mizen top-sails.
b. figurative esp. in to hoist, lower, strike the topsail.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > be irresolute or vacillate [verb (intransitive)] > give way or give in
benda1400
sink?a1513
to give over1530
to cry creak?1562
yield1576
to hold up1596
succumb1604
to give in1616
to hoist, lower, strike the topsaila1629
to cry cravena1634
to give up or cross the cudgels1654
incumb1656
to fall in1667
to knock under1670
to knock under board, under (the) table1692
to strike underc1730
knuckle down1735
to throw (also chuck) up the sponge1860
chuck up (the sponge)1864
to throw in one's hand1893
to sky the wipe (or towel)1907
to drop one's bundle1915
to throw (chuck, or toss) in the towel1915
to buckle up1927
a1629 W. Hinde Faithfull Remonstr. (1641) xli. 128 For the practice and power of Religion, the very Topsaile of all England.
1745 J. Mason Treat. Self-knowl. i. vii. 58 The Sin, to which not our Virtues only, but Vices too, lower their Topsail, and submit.
1805 R. Southey Madoc i. xv. 156 Ye may tell Your Pope, that..I shall not strike a topsail for the breath Of all his maledictions!
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swiftly [phrase] > at full speed
full speed1382
with topsailc1400
at spursa1500
on (also upon) the (spurs or) spur1525
amain1555
a main pace (also speed)1567
full tilt?a1600
upon full stretch1697
at full tilt1713
at (also on) full speed1749
(at) full split1836
full chisel1837
(at) full pelt1841
full swing1843
ventre à terre1848
full out1886
at full lick1889
hell-for-leather1889
all out1895
eyes out1895
flat out1932
(a)
(b)c1400 Sc. Trojan War ii. 1963 Tharfor with topsall all & sum Vpon þe craggis suld cum.c1400 Sege Jerus. 706 Þe lered men of þe lawe a litel bynyþe Weren tourmented on a tre, topsail walten.
c1430 Chev. Assigne 320 And eyther of hem so smerlye smote other,..And eyther of hem topseyle tumbledde to ye erthe.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 1219 Mony turnyt with tene top~sayles ouer, Þat hurlet to þe hard vrthe, & þere horse leuyt.
Compounds
attributive and in other combinations, 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 1.
ΘΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [adjective] > allowing specific sails to be carried
topsail cole1390
loom1600
reef-topsail1693
topgallant1697
whole-sail1824
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > wind as means of propulsion > other
topsail1390
side winda1398
quarter wind1523
quartern wind1592
elbow-winda1722
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 231 The wynd stod thanne noght amis Bot evene topseilcole it blew.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 338 Thei hadden wynd at wille tho, With topseilcole and forth they go.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 32 Hail on ȝour top sail scheitis vire..ȝour top sail trossis,..hail out the top sail boulene.
1673 London Gaz. No. 807/4 The Wind has been all this day between the South and the South-West, a fine Topsail Gale.
1711 W. Sutherland Ship-builders Assistant 109 Top-sail Yards [are]5/ 9 of the Main-yards.., the Top-gallant Yards 1/ 2 the Top-sail Yards.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 766 The number of top-sail vessels..is about 150.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast ii. 11 The topsail haliards had been let go.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Topsail-schooner, is full schooner-rigged, but carries a square-topsail on the foremast.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online September 2020).
<
n.1390