sail-cloth

The sailor mends a piece of sail-cloth on the deck.

Definition

Noun: "sail-cloth" refers to a strong, durable fabric specifically designed for making sails for boats and ships.

Usage Examples

• (A strong fabric used to construct sails for a sailing vessel.)
• (The material historically used for sails, now sometimes made of artificial fibers.)

Advanced Usage

• "sail-cloth" as a material descriptor: The term can be used to describe the texture or weight of other fabrics, implying they are as sturdy as sail material.
  • The jacket was made of a heavy sail-cloth that could withstand harsh weather. (A fabric resembling the strength of sail material, used for outerwear.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sailcloth (n): an alternative spelling of "sail-cloth," meaning the same fabric for sails.
  • The sailcloth was treated with a waterproof coating. (The fabric used for sails, treated to resist water.)

Synonyms

• Canvas: a heavy, durable cloth often used for sails, tents, and paintings.
• Duck cloth: a strong, plain-woven fabric similar to sail-cloth, used for work clothes and bags.

Related Idioms