sail

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
  2. noun an ocean trip taken for pleasure
  3. noun any structure that resembles a sail

Etymology

From Middle English saile, sayle, seil, seyl, from Old English seġl, from Proto-West Germanic *segl, from Proto-Germanic *seglą. Cognate with West Frisian seil, Low German Segel, Dutch zeil, German Segel, Danish sejl, Swedish segel.

In classic literature

Synonyms

canvas, canvass, sheet

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