denoting a rig with a triangular sail (lateen sail) bent to a yard hoisted to the head of a low mast, used esp in the Mediterranean
Word origin
C18: from French voile latine Latin sail
lateen in American English
(læˈtin; ləˈtin)
adjective
1.
designating or of a triangular, fore-and-aft-rigged sail attached to a long yard suspended obliquely from a short mast: now used chiefly on Mediterranean vessels
noun
2.
a lateen-rigged vessel
: also laˈteener
Word origin
Fr latine < (voile) latine, Latin (sail) < fem. of L Latinus, Latin
Examples of 'lateen' in a sentence
lateen
And so he balanced his gear in his schooner and hoisted the bright blue lateen sail.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD
The boat's small mast was raised, its lateen set, its tiller lashed.