Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun The rope that controls the angle at which a mainsail is trimmed and set.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The sheet or rope used for securing the mainsail when set. See
sheet . - noun plural Collectively, all the sheets of the square sails on the mainmast, but especially the sheets which belong to the main course.
- noun In Jamaica, weak rum and water.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Naut.) One of the ropes by which the mainsail is hauled aft and trimmed.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun nautical The rope connected to and controlling the
mainsail .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun (nautical) a line (rope or chain) that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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The mainsheet is a multiple-part block and tackle used to increase an individual’s pulling power.
Sailing Fundamentals Gary Jobson 1998
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The mainsheet is a multiple-part block and tackle used to increase an individual’s pulling power.
Sailing Fundamentals Gary Jobson 1998
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He knew already the empty windiness of its threats, but he was careful of the mainsheet blocks, and walked around the traveller instead of over it.
CHAPTER IV 2010
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With clenched teeth sat the boat-steerer, grasping the steering oar firmly with both hands, his restless eyes on the alert -- a glance at the schooner ahead, as we rose on a sea, another at the mainsheet, and then one astern where the dark ripple of the wind on the water told him of a coming puff or a large white-cap that threatened to overwhelm us.
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With clenched teeth sat the boat-steerer, grasping the steering oar firmly with both hands, his restless eyes on the alert -- a glance at the schooner ahead, as we rose on a sea, another at the mainsheet, and then one astern where the dark ripple of the wind on the water told him of a coming puff or a large white-cap that threatened to overwhelm us.
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The Ghost swung around into the wind, and I finished my work forward in time to run aft and lend a hand with the mainsheet.
Chapter 25 2010
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But he was deflected by the crash of the mainsheet blocks on the stout deck-traveller, as the mainsail, emptied of the wind and feeling the wind on the other side, swung crazily across above him.
CHAPTER II 2010
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He trotted across the level deck to Skipper, who, standing erect on wide-spread legs, the bight of the mainsheet still in his hand, was exclaiming:
CHAPTER V 2010
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This necessitated frequent tacks, so that, overhead, the mainsail was ever swooping across from port tack to starboard tack and back again, making air-noises like the swish of wings, sharply rat-tat-tatting its reef points and loudly crashing its mainsheet gear along the traveller.
CHAPTER III 2010
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Jump! he could hear Skipper shouting loudly; also he heard the high note of the mainsheet screaming across the sheaves as Van Horn, bending braces in the dark, was swiftly slacking the sheet through his scorching palms with a single turn on the cleat.
CHAPTER V 2010
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