brail
1 of 2noun
ˈbrāl 
1
: a rope fastened to the leech of a sail and used for hauling the sail up or in
2
: a dip net with which fish are hauled aboard a boat from a purse seine or trap
brail
2 of 2verb
brailed; brailing; brails
transitive verb
1
: to take in (a sail) by the brails
2
: to hoist (fish) by means of a brail
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Erik Kain, Forbes, 29 June 2022
Noun
My first guess—brail—did very little for me other than to get me an ‘A’ in yellow. Erik Kain, Forbes, 29 June 2022 Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English brayle, from Anglo-French braiel belt, strap, brail, alteration of Old French braiuel belt, probably ultimately from Latin braca pants — more at breech
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1