stuns'l

A sailor adjusts the stuns'l on the tall ship's yardarm.

Definition

1. Noun (Nautical):
   • A stuns'l is a light auxiliary sail, set outside the square sails of a sailing ship on extensions called booms, used to increase speed in favorable winds. It is a shortened form of "studding sail."

Usage Examples

• (A small extra sail set for more speed.)
• (The auxiliary sail was removed for safety.)

Advanced Usage

• "to set a stuns'l": to deploy the studding sail for additional propulsion.
  • The captain ordered the crew to set the stuns'l on the foremast. (To raise and secure the extra sail.)
• "stuns'l boom": the spar or pole extending outward from the yardarm to which the stuns'l is attached.
  • The stuns'l boom snapped under the strain of the strong wind. (The supporting pole broke.)

Variants and Related Words

• Stunsail (n): alternative spelling of stuns'l.
  • The old ship's log mentioned repairing the stunsail after a storm.
• Studding sail (n): the full term for a stuns'l; a light sail set outside a square sail.
  • The studding sail was common on clipper ships for extra speed.

Synonyms

• Auxiliary sail: a sail used to supplement the main sails.
• Kite sail: a lightweight sail set for extra propulsion in light winds (though not identical in rigging).

Related Idioms

• "To carry a stuns'l": to have an advantage or extra resource.
  • The team's new player was like carrying a stuns'l in the race. (An extra asset that boosts performance.)
• "Stuns'l weather": conditions favorable for using auxiliary sails.
  • We have stuns'l weather today — perfect for a fast passage. (Good, steady winds for extra sails.)