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Glite Dictionary
⛵ A triangular sail ⛵ With a triangular sail
lateen

lateen

1 9.9
A triangular sail attached to a long angled pole on a mast used on boats
  • noun
  • /ləˈtin/
  • Specialized
translation icon : vela latina
  • The ancient vessels of the Mediterranean often featured a lateen sail, allowing them to harness the wind from different angles.
  • lateen sail

Examples

  • Sailing with a lateen can help navigate narrow coastal waters more effectively.

  • Unless our experimental lateen rig worked perfectly in concert with the guares system, it would be all over for us in roughly 15 minutes.

    Academic text (2002)

  • The fisherman adjusted the lateen sail to capture the breeze as he set out in his small boat.

Synonyms

lateen sail
vslateen
  • Specialized
9.1

A triangular sail attached to a long slanted pole on a boat

is the same but used as a shorter single word name

Compounds

lateen sail
  • Specialized
9.1

A triangular sail attached to a long slanted pole on a boat

lateen-rigged
  • Specialized
9.9

Having a triangular sail on a long slanting pole

lateen-rig
  • Specialized
9.9

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

Surface Forms

lateen singular
lateens plural

Etymology

Lateen comes from an old word latina meaning 'Latin'. People in the Mediterranean called it the 'Latin' sail, and it is the triangular sail that helps a boat sail into the wind.