Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sail \Sail\, n. [OE. seil, AS. segel, segl; akin to D. zeil,
   OHG. segal, G. & Sw. segel, Icel. segl, Dan. seil. [root]
   153.]
   1. An extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the
      wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels
      through the water.

            Behoves him now both sail and oar.    --Milton.

   2. Anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.

   3. A wing; a van. [Poetic]

            Like an eagle soaring To weather his broad sails.
                                                  --Spenser.

   4. The extended surface of the arm of a windmill.

   5. A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.

   Note: In this sense, the plural has usually the same form as
         the singular; as, twenty sail were in sight.

   6. A passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon
      the water.

   Note: Sails are of two general kinds, {fore-and-aft sails},
         and {square sails}. Square sails are always bent to
         yards, with their foot lying across the line of the
         vessel. Fore-and-aft sails are set upon stays or gaffs
         with their foot in line with the keel. A fore-and-aft
         sail is triangular, or quadrilateral with the after
         leech longer than the fore leech. Square sails are
         quadrilateral, but not necessarily square. See Phrases
         under {Fore}, a., and {Square}, a.; also, {Bark},
         {Brig}, {Schooner}, {Ship}, {Stay}.

   {Sail burton} (Naut.), a purchase for hoisting sails aloft
      for bending.

   {Sail fluke} (Zo["o]l.), the whiff.

   {Sail hook}, a small hook used in making sails, to hold the
      seams square.

   {Sail loft}, a loft or room where sails are cut out and made.
      

   {Sail room} (Naut.), a room in a vessel where sails are
      stowed when not in use.

   {Sail yard} (Naut.), the yard or spar on which a sail is
      extended.

   {Shoulder-of-mutton sail} (Naut.), a triangular sail of
      peculiar form. It is chiefly used to set on a boat's mast.
      

   {To crowd sail}. (Naut.) See under {Crowd}.

   {To loose sails} (Naut.), to unfurl or spread sails.

   {To make sail} (Naut.), to extend an additional quantity of
      sail.

   {To set a sail} (Naut.), to extend or spread a sail to the
      wind.

   {To set sail} (Naut.), to unfurl or spread the sails; hence,
      to begin a voyage.

   {To shorten sail} (Naut.), to reduce the extent of sail, or
      take in a part.

   {To strike sail} (Naut.), to lower the sails suddenly, as in
      saluting, or in sudden gusts of wind; hence, to
      acknowledge inferiority; to abate pretension.

   {Under sail}, having the sails spread.



   {To set over}.
       (a) To appoint or constitute as supervisor, inspector,
           ruler, or commander.
       (b) To assign; to transfer; to convey.

   {To set right}, to correct; to put in order.

   {To set sail}. (Naut.) See under {Sail}, n.

   {To set store by}, to consider valuable.

   {To set the fashion}, to determine what shall be the fashion;
      to establish the mode.

   {To set the teeth on edge}, to affect the teeth with a
      disagreeable sensation, as when acids are brought in
      contact with them.

   {To set the watch} (Naut.), to place the starboard or port
      watch on duty.

   {To set to}, to attach to; to affix to. ``He . . . hath set
      to his seal that God is true.'' --John iii. 33.

   {To set up}. (a) To erect; to raise; to elevate; as, to set
      up a building, or a machine; to set up a post, a wall, a
      pillar.
       (b) Hence, to exalt; to put in power. ``I will . . . set
           up the throne of David over Israel.'' --2 Sam. iii.
           10.
       (c) To begin, as a new institution; to institute; to
           establish; to found; as, to set up a manufactory; to
           set up a school.
       (d) To enable to commence a new business; as, to set up a
           son in trade.
       (e) To place in view; as, to set up a mark.
       (f) To raise; to utter loudly; as, to set up the voice.

                 I'll set up such a note as she shall hear.
                                                  --Dryden.
       (g) To advance; to propose as truth or for reception; as,
           to set up a new opinion or doctrine. --T. Burnet.
       (h) To raise from depression, or to a sufficient fortune;
           as, this good fortune quite set him up.
       (i) To intoxicate. [Slang]
       (j) (Print.) To put in type; as, to set up copy; to
           arrange in words, lines, etc., ready for printing;
           as, to set up type.

   {To set up the rigging} (Naut.), to make it taut by means of
      tackles. --R. H. Dana, Jr.

   Syn: See {Put}.