ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Brail

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /bɹeɪl/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Brail is a noun meaning (nautical) A small rope used to truss up sails.

Meaning

(nautical) A small rope used to truss up sails.

More Meanings

  1. (falconry) A thong of soft leather to bind up a hawk's wing.
  2. A stock at each end of a seine to keep it stretched.
  3. (theater) A rope or line used to suspend lights or scenery in a certain position.
  4. (in the plural) The feathers around a hawk's rump.
  5. To reef, shorten or strike sail using brails.

Example Sentences

The winds blew at their own caprice and there was brailing and loosing of canvas.

Word Forms

Synonyms for brail

Depending on context, synonyms include brailing.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include ropeband, bridle, brace, truss, tack, boatrope.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.