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Glite Dictionary
lateen sail

lateen sail

9.1
A triangular sail attached to a long slanted pole on a boat
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : vela latina
  • The lateen sail allowed the vessel to navigate the shallow waters of the Mediterranean with ease.

Examples

  • It's the lateen sail.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • You know, that's the last man-of-war with a lateen sail aft.

    Cat People (1942)

  • The fishing boat glided smoothly through the water, its lateen sail catching the breeze.

  • With a triangular shape, the lateen sail was ideal for harnessing the wind on the small sailboats.

Synonyms

lateen
vslateen sail
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A triangular sail attached to a long angled pole on a mast used on boats

has identical meaning but is the shorter spoken or written form

Surface Forms

lateen sail singular
lateen sails plural

Morphology

lateen + sail

This is a straightforward noun phrase where the modifier 'lateen' (a triangular, angled yard-mounted sail) specifies the type of 'sail' (a piece of canvas used to propel a vessel). The overall meaning is directly compositional and follows a common modifier + noun pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand it.

Etymology

Lateen sail is the name for a triangle-shaped sail hung on a long slanting yard or pole. This slanted shape lets boats sail 'against the wind' more easily, so the term describes this special sail used by Mediterranean boats.