crossjack: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Historical / Nautical / Technical
Quick answer
What does “crossjack” mean?
A square sail set on the lower mizzenmast of a sailing ship.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A square sail set on the lower mizzenmast of a sailing ship.
In historical nautical terminology, a specific sail positioned on the mizzen mast, also known historically as the mizzen course. The term is now archaic and largely historical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences. The term is equally historical and specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes historical sailing ships, naval history, and traditional seamanship.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern usage, confined to historical texts, maritime museums, and historical fiction. Frequency is identical across varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “crossjack” in a Sentence
The [noun: crew/sailors] + [verb: set/furled/reefed] + the crossjack.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical maritime studies or literature analysis of sea narratives.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in precise descriptions of square-rigged sailing ship rigging and sail plans.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crossjack”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crossjack”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crossjack”
- Spelling as 'crossjacket' or 'cross-jack'. While sometimes hyphenated historically, 'crossjack' is standard.
- Confusing it with a 'jack-yard' or other parts of the rigging.
- Using it as a verb.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a purely historical term relevant to the Age of Sail and square-rigged vessels.
No, it is exclusively a noun referring to a specific sail.
A crossjack is square-rigged and set on a yard. A spanker is fore-and-aft rigged, set on a gaff and boom, and is the typical sail seen on the mizzen of later sailing ships.
Because the technology it describes—square sails on the mizzen mast of large sailing ships—has been obsolete for over a century.
A square sail set on the lower mizzenmast of a sailing ship.
Crossjack is usually historical / nautical / technical in register.
Crossjack: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɒsdʒæk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɔːsˌdʒæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a sailor named JACK having to CROSS the deck to handle the lowest sail on the rear (mizzen) mast – the CROSS-JACK.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SPECIFIC TOOL FOR A SPECIFIC TASK (A precise component in a complex system).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'crossjack'?