backwind

1 of 2

noun

: a wind blowing onto the wrong side of a sail
especially : one directed upon a mainsail by a wrongly trimmed jib

backwind

2 of 2

transitive verb

"
1
: to direct a backwind upon
a jib thus bellied is most apt to backwind the mainsail
2
: to sail to windward of (another sailing ship) so as to blanket or interfere with the wind
backwind his opponent in a yacht race

Word History

Etymology

Noun

back entry 3 + wind

First Known Use

Noun

1909, in the meaning defined above

Transitive Verb

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of backwind was in 1899

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Dictionary Entries Near backwind

Cite this Entry

“Backwind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backwind. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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