parasail

1 of 2

noun

para·​sail ˈper-ə-ˌsāl 

ˈpa-rə-

plural parasails

: parachute sense 1

… this vehicle features a large parasail … to deliver capsules back to solid ground.

—J. R. Dailey

especially : a parachute from which a harnessed rider hangs while being towed usually by a motorboat

… it is possible with a parasail to be towed aloft by a speedboat …

—The Bee-Hive

parasail

2 of 2

verb

parasailed; parasailing; parasails

intransitive verb

: to soar through the air using a parasail : to engage in the recreational sport of parasailing

To parasail, he sat on a platform with a parachute as he and another rider were lifted into the air. When done, they gently landed on the lake.

—Treva Lind

… she parasailed over the sea and her parachute edged closer to the water, where dolphins could be seen.

—Brian Dillon

parasailer

ˈper-ə-ˌsā-lər 

ˈpa-rə-

noun

or less commonly parasailor

plural parasailers also parasailors

… a speedboat draws our attention to parasailers tethered well above the waves.

—J. Kingston Pierce

Word History

Etymology

Noun

para- entry 2 + sail entry 1

Verb

derivative of parasail entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1962, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1964, in the meaning defined above