topsail
Above the mainsail
A topsail is a sail set above another sail on a mast—specifically, the sail above the lowest sail on a square-rigged ship, or above the mainsail on a fore-and-aft rigged vessel.
The word appears in nautical contexts and age-of-sail fiction: The crew unfurled the topsails to catch the wind.
Sail-hoisting tackle
- sheetsFlat expanses of material
- bracesDental alignment devices
- shroudsWraps that hide
- ratlinesRope ladder rungs aboard
yardarm · yard · gaskets · footrope · stirrups · block · dead-eyes · tackles
Ship with horizontal-yard sails
- brigShipboard detention quarters
- schoonerMulti-masted sailing craft
- barqueMulti-masted sailing vessel
- clipperFast ship or trimmer
galleon · frigate · ketch · yawl · cutter · sloop · brigantine · windjammer
Ship's frontmost vertical spar
- mainmastShip's central vertical spar
- mizzenAftermost sail or mast
- topgallantThird-level square sail
- crosstreesHorizontal mast supports
halyard
Sail-hoisting tackle
ratlines · yardarm · yard · gaskets · footrope · stirrups · block · dead-eyes · tackles · lanyard
square-rigger
Ship with horizontal-yard sails
clipper · galleon · frigate · ketch · yawl · cutter · sloop · brigantine · windjammer · man-of-war
foremast
Ship's frontmost vertical spar
- mainmastShip's central vertical spar
- mizzenAftermost sail or mast
- topgallantThird-level square sail
crosstrees · masthead · cap · truck · hounds · doubling · royal
canvas
Heavy woven cloth
set · clew · leech · luff · tabling · roach · head · foot · close-hauled · running