noun
spinnaker
SPIN-uh-ker/ˈspɪnəkər/
A large triangular sail used when sailing downwind.
The boat's spinnaker fills with wind as we sail downwind.
Etymology
The sail's name has no secure origin. It may be connected with spin meaning “go rapidly”; a proposed link to the yacht Sphinx is not supported by the contemporary accounts cited.
In context
not to use the spinnaker because it's just this humongous sail that can get out of control very easily. So unless it's really light wind, that's kind of where the spinnaker is actually used in the real world
More examples
- The crew hoists the spinnaker for the downwind leg.
- We lower the spinnaker when the wind gets too strong.
- Brightly colored spinnakers billow above the racing boats.
Forms
spinnaker · spinnakers
Similar words
- gennaker
- An asymmetric downwind sail combining spinnaker and genoa features.