Obs. [a. Fr. amene-r to draw towards, in naval phr. amener pavillon, or absolutely amener, to strike flag, to surrender.]
1. trans. To lower (a sail, etc., esp. the topsail).
1593–1622. R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea (1847), 224. He called to us to amaine our sayles, which we could not well doe.
1627. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., vii. 33. When you let anything downe into the Howle, lowering it by degrees, they say, Amaine; and being downe, Strike. Ibid., ix. 40. When you would lower a yard so fast as you can, they call Amaine.
2. fig. To lower, lessen, abate.
1578. T. N., trans. Conq. W. India, 257. They somewhat amayned their furie for their princes sake.
3. intr. To lower the topsail in sign of yielding; to yield.
1593–1622. R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea (1847), 33. Wished that the gunner might shoote at her, to cause her to amaine.
1628. Digby, Voy. Medit. (1868), 77. Then the Swallow bad them ‘Amaine for the King of England!’
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Amain, or Amayne, a sea term, used by a man of war, to his enemy; and signifying, yield.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v., When we used to demand the salute in the narrow seas, the lowering of the topsail was called striking amain.
4. To conduct, guide. (A former sense of Fr. amener; cf. amenée, ‘action de conduire.’) rare.
1553. in Strype, Eccl. Mem., II. II. xxi. 418. That his majesty may have … the ameyning of the matters.
