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Glite Dictionary
🎣 A fishing net 🎣 To haul fish ⛵ A sail rope ⛵ To gather sail
brail

brail

9.9
A small rope used to pull a sail up or in
  • noun
  • /breɪl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : cabo para recoger la vela
  • The sailor pulled on the brail to gather up the sail before the storm.

Examples

  • With a practiced hand, she loosened the brail to let the sail fall.

  • Can you pass me the brails for the main sail?

  • Several brails were frayed and needed to be replaced before the next voyage.

  • The sailor adjusted the brail to secure the sail.

  • The sailor pulled on the brail to gather up the sail before the storm.

  • Several brails were frayed and needed to be replaced before the next voyage.

  • With a practiced hand, she loosened the brail to let the sail fall.

Synonyms

snotter
vsbrail
  • UK
1 9.9

A short rope that holds a small pole to keep a sail in place

gathers a sail inward to shorten it rather than merely fastening it
small stuff
vsbrail
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A thin rope on a ship used for small tasks like tying or securing

is a specific small rope used to pull a sail in rather than general use
buntline
vsbrail
  • Specialized
9.9

A rope at the bottom of a square sail that sailors pull to lift it to the yard

draws the sail in generally rather than pulling from the bottom

Surface Forms

brail singular
brails plural

Etymology

Brail comes from an old French word braiel meaning 'little belt', and you can picture a small belt used to gather cloth. A sailing brail is a small rope that 'belts' the sail up, which is why it means a short rope used to draw in or gather a sail.