press of canvas
- noun
- Archaic
:
presión de lona
- With the press of canvas out, the crew had to be careful to avoid capsizing.
Examples
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The ship moved swiftly before the wind under a full press of canvas.
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During the storm, the captain ordered a reduction in the press of canvas to prevent disaster.
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With the press of canvas out, the crew had to remain vigilant for sudden changes in weather.
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The press of canvas was too much for the old vessel!
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Can you adjust the press of canvas for better speed?
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During the storm, the captain ordered a reduction in the press of canvas to prevent disaster.
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The ship moved swiftly before the wind under a full press of canvas.
Synonyms
The most sail a ship can safely carry in the current weather
Antonyms
How Full
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'press' (pressure/force) with 'canvas' (sail material), so a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer it refers to pressure exerted by the sails. However, the precise sense — the nautical, technical idea of the maximum amount of sail a ship can safely carry — is domain-specific and not an everyday compositional pattern, so the connection is only partially predictable without maritime knowledge.
Etymology
Press of canvas is a saying from old sailors: canvas is the cloth of the sails and press is the strong push of wind on them. When the sails are full and the wind pushes hard, the ship has 'the most sail a ship can carry safely', so press of canvas means that greatest safe amount of sail.