Brail
WordNet
noun
(1) A small rope (one of several) used to draw a sail in
(2) A small net used to draw fish into a boat
verb
(3) Haul fish aboard with brails
(4) Take in a sail with a brail
WiktionaryText
Etymology
Old French braiel, from mediæval Latin bracale ‘girdle’ (from bracae ‘breeches’).
Noun
brail (usually in plural)
- a small rope used to truss up sails
Verb
brail
- to haul up a sail using the brails
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- 1993: The winds blew at their own caprice and there was brailing and loosing of canvas. — Anthony Burgess, A Dead Man in Deptford
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