singlesticker

Definition
  1. Noun (American English, slang):
    • A type of boat with a single mast and one sail, i.e., a "single-stickered" vessel. The term "singlesticker" refers specifically to a sailboat that uses only one mast (the "stick") for its rigging.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • He preferred the simplicity of a singlesticker over a complicated schooner. (He liked a boat with one mast more than a multi-masted sailing ship.)
    • The harbour was filled with small singlestickers bobbing in the breeze. (The dock was crowded with single-masted sailboats.)
Advanced Usage
  • "singlesticker" as a descriptor: In informal or technical sailing contexts, "singlesticker" can be used to classify a boat's rigging type, often contrasting with "twinsticker" (a boat with two masts).
    • The regatta had a separate category for singlestickers. (The race had a class just for single-masted sailboats.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Single-stick (n): A term sometimes used interchangeably with "singlesticker," though "single-stick" can also refer to a type of fencing weapon in historical contexts.

    • The sailor rigged his single-stick for the afternoon cruise. (The sailor set up his single-masted boat for an afternoon sail.)

  • Twinsticker (n): A slang term for a boat with two masts, such as a ketch or yawl.

    • The twinsticker handled the heavy winds better than the singlesticker. (The two-masted boat performed better in strong wind than the one-masted boat.)
Synonyms
  • Single-masted sailboat: A formal term for a boat with one mast.
  • Sloop: A specific type of single-masted sailboat with a fore-and-aft rig (though not all sloops are called "singlesticks").
  • Catboat: A single-masted sailboat with a single sail set far forward.
Related Idioms

  • "Stick to the stick": An informal phrase among sailors meaning to rely on a simple, single-masted rig for ease of handling.

    • After years with a schooner, he decided to stick to the stick and bought a singlesticker. (He chose to go back to a simpler, single-masted boat.)

  • "One mast fits all": A humorous idiom implying that a singlesticker is versatile enough for most sailing needs.

    • For coastal cruising, a singlesticker is often enough—one mast fits all. (A single-masted boat is sufficient for typical coastal sailing.)