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Glite Dictionary
fore-and-aft rig

fore-and-aft rig

8.4
A sail setup where the main sails run along the boat's length
  • noun
  • /ˈfɔr ənd æft rɪg/
  • Specialized
translation icon : vela de proa a popa
  • The yacht was fitted with a fore-and-aft rig, making it easier to maneuver in changing winds.

Examples

  • Switching from a square rig to a fore-and-aft rig improved the ship's speed and handling.

  • Most modern sailboats use a fore-and-aft rig rather than a square rig.

  • The fore-and-aft rig allows for better maneuverability.

  • Many modern yachts use a fore-and-aft rig for sailing.

  • Most modern sailboats use a fore-and-aft rig rather than a square rig.

  • Switching from a square rig to a fore-and-aft rig improved the ship's speed and handling.

  • The yacht was fitted with a fore-and-aft rig, making it easier to maneuver in changing winds.

Synonyms

Bermuda rig
vsfore-and-aft rig
  • Specialized
9.0

A way of putting triangular sails from front to back on a boat, often on yachts

is the general alignment of sails along the vessel length not a specific sail shape
lateen-rig
vsfore-and-aft rig
  • Specialized
9.9

A triangle-shaped sail hung from a long sloping pole attached to the mast

describes sail alignment along the vessel length rather than an angled yard rig

Surface Forms

fore-and-aft rig singular
fore-and-aft rigs plural

Morphology

fore-and-aft + rig

The compound is compositional: 'fore-and-aft' literally signals orientation from front to back (lengthwise) and 'rig' denotes the equipment on a vessel, so the overall meaning — gear/sails aligned along the length of the boat — can be inferred from the parts. However 'fore-and-aft' is a specialised nautical term and not highly frequent, so a B1 learner without some domain knowledge might not fully grasp the precise sailing implication; this makes the expression partially but not fully transparent.

Etymology

Fore-and-aft rig comes from the simple picture of sails set along a boat's length, from the fore, meaning the 'front', to the aft, meaning the 'back'. Because the sails run front-to-back, this name describes a sail setup that makes the boat easier to steer and handle today.