An Universal Dictionary of the Marine / Or, a Copious Explanation of the Technical Terms and Phrases Employed in the Construction, Equipment, Furniture, Machinery, Movements, and Military Operations of a Ship. Illustrated With Variety of Original Designs of Shipping, in Different Situations; Together With Separate Views of Their Masts, Sails, Yards, and Rigging. to Which Is Annexed, a Translation of the French Sea-terms and Phrases, Collected from the Works of Mess. Du Hamel, Aubin, Saverien, &c.

by William Falconer

In all quadrangular sails the upper edge is called the head; the sides or skirts are called leeches; and the bottom or lower edge is termed the foot. If the head is parallel to the foot, the two lower corners are denominated clues, and the upper corners earings.

In all triangular sails, and in those four-sided sails wherein the head is not parallel to the foot, the foremost corner at the foot is called the tack; and the after lower-corner the clue; the foremost perpendicular or sloping edge is called the fore leech, and the hindmost the after leech.

The heads of all four-sided sails, and the fore-leeches of lateen sails, are attached to their respective yard or gaff by a number of small cords called robands; and the extremities are tied to the yard-arms, or to the peek of the gaff, by earings.

The stay-sails are extended upon stays between the masts, whereon they are drawn up or down occasionally, as a curtain slides upon its rod, and their lower parts are stretched out by a tack and sheet. The clues of a top-sail are drawn out to the extremities of the lower yard, by two large ropes called the top-sail sheets; and the clues of the top-gallant-sails are in like manner extended upon the top-sail yard-arms, as exhibited by plate [IX]. fig. 1.

The studding-sails are set beyond the leeches or skirts of the main-sail and fore-sail, or of the top-sails or top-gallant-sails of a ship. Their upper and lower edges are accordingly extended by poles run out beyond the extremities of the yards for this purpose. Those sails however are only set in favourable winds and moderate weather.

All sails derive their name from the mast, yard, or stay upon which they are extended. Thus the principal sail extended upon the main-mast is called the main-sail, grande voile, d, fig. 2. plate [IX].; the next above, which stands upon the main-top-mast, is termed the main top-sail, grand hunier, e; and the highest, which is spread across the main-top-gallant-mast, is named the main-top-gallant-sail, grand perroquet, f.

In the same manner there is the fore-sail, misaine, g; the fore-top-sail, petit hunier, h; and the fore-top-gallant-sail, petit perroquet, i; the mizen, artimon, k; the mizen top-sail, perroquet d’artimon, l; and mizen top-gallant-sail m. Thus also there is the main stay-sail o; main-top-mast stay-sail p; and main-top-gallant stay-sail q; with a middle stay-sail which stands between the two last. N. B. All these stay-sails are between the main and fore masts.

The stay-sails (voiles d’etai) between the main-mast and mizen-mast are the mizen stay-sail r; and the mizen top-mast stay-sail s; and sometimes a mizen top-gallant stay-sail above the latter.

The stay-sails between the fore-mast and the bowsprit are the fore stay-sail t; the fore top-mast stay-sail u; and the jib, foc, x. There is besides two square sails extended by yards under the bowsprit, one of which is called the sprit-sail, civadiere, y; and the other the sprit-sail top-sail z, perroquet de beaupré. For the French names of all the stay-sails, see the French term Etai, and the phrases following it.

The studding-sails (bonnettes en étui) being extended upon the different yards of the main-mast and fore-mast, are likewise named according to their stations, the lower, top-mast, or top-gallant studding sails.