a. (sb.) Also 8 latin, 8–9 latine, 9 lattine, latteen. [A phonetic spelling of F. latine (in voile latine, ‘Latin sail,’ in allusion to its use in the Mediterranean), fem. of latin LATIN a. Cf. It. latina (Florio).] Lateen sail: a triangular sail suspended by a long yard at an angle of about 45 degrees to the mast. Hence, belonging to or having such a rig, as lateen mizsen, vessel, yard.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Sail, Others are triangular, called … by some Latin-sails, because chiefly used in Italy.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Lateen-sail,… frequently used by xebecs, polacres, settees, and other vessels … in the Mediterranean sea. Ibid., Tt 4. All yards are either square or lateen.
1777. Forster, Voy. round World, I. 462. Their sails, which are latine, are made of strong mats.
1779. Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 10. I … gave her a lateen mizen.
1836. Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xiii. The white latteen sails of the gun-boat.
1836. E. Howard, R. Reefer, xl. There was a spanking felucca, with her long lateen sails brailed up.
1842. E. Napier, Mediterranean, I. 312. These Latine vessels, or ‘misticos’ and ‘feluccas,’ as they are generally termed, are fine boats.
1848. W. Irving, Columbus, I. 130. The latine sails of the Niña were also altered into square sails, that she might work more steadily and securely.
1883. G. C. Davies, Norfolk Broads, ix. 67. In the old times the almost universal rig was the lateen, the most picturesque of all rigs.
Comb. 1880. Daily Tel., 17 Sept., 3/2. In the harbour below the town lay a large fleet of some 200 lateen-rigged feluccas.
b. A lateener.
1836. Marryat, Midsh. Easy (1863), 275. Only three men were left in the latteens, and four in the galliot.
Hence Lateener, a vessel with a lateen rig.
1882. G. C. Davies, Riv. & Broads Norf. & Suff., viii. 49. An eight-ton lateener. Ibid. (1883), Norfolk Broads, ix. 68. One or two ancient craft at Norwich, are the only survivors of the old lateeners.
