Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

back sail

noun
Save Word

Definition of back sail

: a sail upon which the wind pressure is on the forward side

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of back sail

1851, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about back sail

Time Traveler for back sail

Time Traveler

The first known use of back sail was in 1851

See more words from the same year

Statistics for back sail

Cite this Entry

“Back sail.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back%20sail. Accessed 23 January 2020.

Comments on back sail

What made you want to look up back sail? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

outlandish

Listen to the pronounciation of outlandish

out of the ordinary or unreasonable

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Intact Latin Quiz

  • roman tablet
  • What did focus mean in Latin?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games