Topsail

Naut. [f. TOP sb.¹ 9 + SAIL sb. So LG. toppsegel.] A sail set above the lower course, orig. the uppermost sail (cf. TOP-GALLANT A. 1). In a square-rigged vessel, orig. a single square sail set next above the lower sail or yard; now, in larger ships, divided for convenience in handling into an upper and a lower topsail (double topsails). In a fore-and-aft rig, a square or triangular sail set above the gaff.

1390.  [see d].

[1399.  Langl., Rich. Redeles, IV. 72. They bente on a bonet, and bare a topte saile Affor þe wynde ffresshely to make a good ffare.]

c. 1420.  ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 129. [Eolus] With hys boystous blast,… other whyle he brak top seyle and mast.

15[?].  Sir A. Barton, in Surtees Misc. (1888), 67. Full soone he let his toppe-saill fall.

1622.  R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea (1847), 126. Bearing up before the winde wee put out our topsayles and spritsayles.

1674.  Lond. 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.  Falconer, Shipwr., I. 361. The topsails low’r and form a single reef.

1820.  Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., I. 402. The ship could only bear close-reefed topsails and courses.

1860.  Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea (Low), xix. § 807. At 8 P.M. took in fore and mizen top-sails.

  b.  fig. esp. in to hoist, lower, strike the topsail.

a. 1629.  Hinde, J. Bruen, xli. (1641), 128. For the practice and power of Religion, the very Topsaile of all England.

1745.  J. Mason, Self Knowl., I. vii. (1853), 53. The Sin, to which not our Vertues only, but Vices too, lower their Topsail, and submit.

1805.  Southey, Madoc in W., xv. 114. You may tell Your Pope, that … I shall not strike a topsail for the breath Of all his maledictions!

  † 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. Obs.

  Those in (a) may have some bearing upon TOPSY-TURVY.

  (a)  c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 1219. Mony turnyt with tene topsayles ouer, Þat hurlet to þe hard vrthe, & þere horse leuyt.

c. 1400.  Sege Jerus., 706. Þe lered men of þe lawe a litel bynyþe Weren tourmented on a tre, topsail walten.

c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 320. And eyther of hem so smerlye smote other,… And eyther of hem topseyle tumbledde to y^e erthe.

  (b)  c. 1400.  Sc. Trojan War, II. 1963. Tharfor with topsall all & sum Vpon þe craggis suld cum.

  d.  attrib. and Comb., of or pertaining to the topsail, as topsail halyard, sheet, truss, yard; carrying a topsail or topsails, as topsail barge, schooner, vessel; allowing a vessel to carry topsails, as topsail breeze, † cole, topsail gale.

  (With topsail cole cf. quots. under COOL sb.¹ 2.)

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 231. The wynd stod thanne noght amis Bot evene topseilcole it blew. Ibid., III. 338. Thei hadden wynd at wille tho, With topseilcole and forth they go.

1549.  Compl. Scot., vi. 41. Hail on ȝour top sail scheitis, vir … ȝour top sail trossis,… hail out the top sail boulene.

1673.  Lond. 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, Shipbuild. Assist., 109. Top-sail Yards [are] ⁵/₉ of the Main-yards…, the Top-gallant Yards ¹/₂ the Top-sail Yards.

1796.  Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 766. The number of top-sail vessels … is about 150.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, ii. The topsail halyards had been let go.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Topsail-schooner, is full schooner-rigged, but carries a square-topsail on the foremast.