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Entry 14 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Sail

/sāl/ · IPA /seɪl/
01 n. An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels through the water.
  1. 1.
    An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels through the water.
    “Behoves him now both sail and oar.” — Milton.
  2. 2.
    Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.
  3. 3.
    A wing; a van.[Poetic]
    “Like an eagle soaring To weather his broad sails.” — Spenser.
  4. 4.
    The extended surface of the arm of a windmill.
  5. 5.
    A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.
  6. 6.
    A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon the water.
Phrases & compounds
Sail burton — a purchase for hoisting sails aloft for bending.
Sail fluke — the whiff.
Sail hook — a small hook used in making sails, to hold the seams square.
Sail loft — a loft or room where sails are cut out and made.
Sail room — a room in a vessel where sails are stowed when not in use.
Sail yard — the yard or spar on which a sail is extended.
Shoulder-of-mutton sail — a triangular sail of peculiar form. It is chiefly used to set on a boat's mast.
To crowd sail — See under Crowd.
To loose sails — to unfurl or spread sails.
To make sail — to extend an additional quantity of sail.
To set a sail — to extend or spread a sail to the wind.
To set sail — to unfurl or spread the sails; hence, to begin a voyage.
To shorten sail — to reduce the extent of sail, or take in a part.
To strike sail — to lower the sails suddenly, as in saluting, or in sudden gusts of wind; hence, to acknowledge inferiority; to abate pretension.
Under sail — having the sails spread.
02 v. i. To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by the action of s…
imp. & p. p. Sailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sailing
  1. 1.
    To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by the action of steam or other power.
  2. 2.
    To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a water fowl.
  3. 3.
    To be conveyed in a vessel on water; to pass by water; as, they sailed from London to Canton.
  4. 4.
    To set sail; to begin a voyage.
  5. 5.
    To move smoothly through the air; to glide through the air without apparent exertion, as a bird.
    “As is a winged messenger of heaven, . . . When he bestrides the lazy pacing clouds, And sails upon the bosom of the air.” — Shak.
03 v. t. To pass or move upon, as in a ship, by means of sails; hence, to move or journey upon (the water) by means of steam or other force.
  1. 1.
    To pass or move upon, as in a ship, by means of sails; hence, to move or journey upon (the water) by means of steam or other force.
    “A thousand ships were manned to sail the sea.” — Dryden.
  2. 2.
    To fly through; to glide or move smoothly through.
    “Sublime she sails The aerial space, and mounts the wingèd gales.” — Pope.
  3. 3.
    To direct or manage the motion of, as a vessel; as, to sail one's own ship.