topgallant

/tɔp'gælənt/

Thân thiện

The sailor climbs the rigging to the topgallant.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mast fixed to the head of a topmast on a square-rigged vessel: In traditional sailing ships with square sails, the topgallant is the third mast section, mounted above the topmast and below the royal mast.
   • A sail set on a yard of a topgallant mast: This also refers to the specific square sail that is set on the yard (the horizontal spar) of this mast.

Usage

• The term "topgallant" is a technical nautical term specific to the rigging of historical square-rigged sailing ships. It is used to describe both the mast section and its corresponding sail. In modern usage, it is primarily found in historical, maritime, or literary contexts.

Examples

• Noun (Mast):
  • The sailors climbed to the topgallant to get a better view of the horizon.
  • During the storm, the topgallant mast was damaged.
• Noun (Sail):
  • The captain ordered the crew to set the topgallant to catch more wind.
  • They furled the topgallant as the wind increased.

Advanced Usage

• "Topgallant yard": The horizontal spar from which the topgallant sail is suspended.
  • The sailor worked on securing the sail to the topgallant yard.
• "Under topgallant sails": A phrase describing a ship sailing with its topgallant sails set.
  • The clipper ship was making excellent speed under topgallant sails.

Variants and Related Words

• Topgallantmast (noun): A compound word sometimes used to refer specifically to the mast.
• Topgallantsail (noun): A compound word sometimes used to refer specifically to the sail.
• T'gallant (noun): A common nautical abbreviation for "topgallant."

Synonyms

• T'gallant (nautical abbreviation)
• Topgallant mast (for the mast)
• Topgallant sail (for the sail)

Related Phrases

• "Royal topgallant": A term used on some ships for a mast or sail above the standard topgallant.
• "To send down a topgallant": A nautical phrase meaning to lower or dismantle the topgallant mast, often in preparation for bad weather.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a mast fixed to the head of a topmast on a square-rigged vessel
2. a sail set on a yard of a topgallant mast

Từ đồng nghĩa

• topgallant mast
• topgallant sail