skysail: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical / Historical
Quick answer
What does “skysail” mean?
A light sail set above the royal sail on a square-rigged sailing ship.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A light sail set above the royal sail on a square-rigged sailing ship.
In historical nautical contexts, the highest sail in the rigging of a traditional sailing vessel, used only in light winds.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the term identically within nautical/historical contexts.
Connotations
Evokes the era of tall ships, naval history, and maritime adventure. No regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “skysail” in a Sentence
The crew set the skysail.The skysail was furled.They sailed under skysail and royal.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, maritime, or literary studies discussing sailing ship technology.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in historical nautical terminology and ship modelling.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skysail”
- Misspelling as 'sky sail' (two words).
- Confusing it with 'spinnaker' (a modern racing sail).
- Using it in a non-nautical context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialised historical/nautical term with almost no use in modern everyday language.
On a traditional square-rigged sailing ship, such as a clipper or frigate from the 18th and 19th centuries.
No, it is solely a noun. The related actions are 'set the skysail' or 'furl the skysail'.
It was a very light sail used only in optimal, gentle wind conditions to provide a small amount of extra speed without straining the rigging.
A light sail set above the royal sail on a square-rigged sailing ship.
Skysail is usually technical / historical in register.
Skysail: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskaɪ.seɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskaɪˌseɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All plain sail and skysail (sailing at maximum speed with all possible sails set)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a sail that touches the SKY – the SKY-SAIL is the highest one.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PEAK OF ACHIEVEMENT IS THE HIGHEST SAIL (e.g., 'reaching for the skysail' could metaphorically mean aiming for the utmost goal).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'skysail'?