refurling
Rolling back up
Refurling is rolling or folding something back up after it has been unfurled—returning a flag, sail, or banner to its stored position.
The word appears mainly in nautical and ceremonial contexts: The crew began refurling the sails as the storm approached.
Figuratively, it can suggest withdrawal or retraction of something previously displayed or extended.
Principal vessel canvas
- genoaOversized forward sail
- spinnakerDownwind sailing sail
- jibTriangular sail forward
- halyardSail-hoisting tackle
sheet · clew · luff · tack · leech · batten · rigging · boom
Looping around repeatedly
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
- rollingTurning over repeatedly
- curlingForming curved shapes
- spiralingCurving in widening circles
twisting · wrapping · looping · turning · rotating · reeling · gathering · bundling
Act of taking away
- recoilBackward force from discharge
- contractionReduction in size
- recedingMoving away from observer
- collapseSudden structural failure
shrinking · tightening · pulling back · folding · storing · securing · closing
mainsail
Principal vessel canvas
halyard · sheet · clew · luff · tack · leech · batten · rigging · boom · winch
coiling
Looping around repeatedly
spiraling · twisting · wrapping · looping · turning · rotating · reeling · gathering · bundling · tucking
withdrawal
Act of taking away
- recoilBackward force from discharge
- contractionReduction in size
- recedingMoving away from observer
collapse · shrinking · tightening · pulling back · folding · storing · securing · closing
gust
Brief wind surge
lull · calm · airflow · turbulence · zephyr · draft · blow · currents · stillness · subsiding