[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

sail \sail\, n. oe. seil, as. segel, segl; akin to d. zeil,
   ohg. segal, g.  sw. segel, icel. segl, dan. seil. root
   153.
   1. an extent of canvas or other fabric by means of which the
      wind is made serviceable as a power for propelling vessels
      through the water.
      1913 webster

            behoves him now both sail and oar.    --milton.
      1913 webster

   2. anything resembling a sail, or regarded as a sail.
      1913 webster

   3. a wing; a van. poetic
      1913 webster

            like an eagle soaring
            to weather his broad sails.           --spenser.
      1913 webster

   4. the extended surface of the arm of a windmill.
      1913 webster

   5. a sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.
      1913 webster

   note: in this sense, the plural has usually the same form as
         the singular; as, twenty sail were in sight.
         1913 webster

   6. a passage by a sailing vessel; a journey or excursion upon
      the water.
      1913 webster

   note: sails are of two general kinds, fore-and-aft sails,
         and square sails. square sails are always bent to
         yards, with their foot lying across the line of the
         vessel. fore-and-aft sails are set upon stays or gaffs
         with their foot in line with the keel. a fore-and-aft
         sail is triangular, or quadrilateral with the after
         leech longer than the fore leech. square sails are
         quadrilateral, but not necessarily square. see phrases
         under fore, a., and square, a.; also, bark,
         brig, schooner, ship, stay.
         1913 webster

   sail burton naut., a purchase for hoisting sails aloft
      for bending.

   sail fluke zool., the whiff.

   sail hook, a small hook used in making sails, to hold the
      seams square.

   sail loft, a loft or room where sails are cut out and made.
      

   sail room naut., a room in a vessel where sails are
      stowed when not in use.

   sail yard naut., the yard or spar on which a sail is
      extended.

   shoulder-of-mutton sail naut., a triangular sail of
      peculiar form. it is chiefly used to set on a boat's mast.
      

   to crowd sail. naut. see under crowd.

   to loose sails naut., to unfurl or spread sails.

   to make sail naut., to extend an additional quantity of
      sail.

   to set a sail naut., to extend or spread a sail to the
      wind.

   to set sail naut., to unfurl or spread the sails; hence,
      to begin a voyage.

   to shorten sail naut., to reduce the extent of sail, or
      take in a part.

   to strike sail naut., to lower the sails suddenly, as in
      saluting, or in sudden gusts of wind; hence, to
      acknowledge inferiority; to abate pretension.

   under sail, having the sails spread.
      1913 webster
see also:
fore-and-aft sails square sails fore square bark brig 
schooner ship stay sail burton sail fluke 
sail hook sail loft sail room sail yard shoulder-of-mutton sail 
to crowd sail crowd to loose sails to make sail to set a sail 
to set sail to shorten sail to strike sail under sail 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

shorten \short"en\, v. t. imp.  p. p. shortened ?; p. pr. 
   vb. n. shortening. see short, a.
   1. to make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as,
      to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of
      calamity.
      1913 webster

   2. to reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to
      lessen; to abridge; to curtail; to contract; as, to
      shorten work, an allowance of food, etc.
      1913 webster

            here, where the subject is so fruitful, i am
            shortened by my chain.                --dryden.
      1913 webster

   3. to make deficient as to; to deprive; -- with of.
      1913 webster

            spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears.
                                                  --dryden.
      1913 webster

   4. to make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard,
      pot liquor, or the like.
      1913 webster

   to shorten a rope naut., to take in the slack of it.

   to shorten sail naut., to reduce sail by taking it in.
      1913 webster
see also:
shortened ? shortening short to shorten a rope to shorten sail 

Sail >> S Words
Sail, definition of term: Sail
sail_pag1.html

Sail Yard >> S Words
Sail Yard, definition of term: Sail Yard
sail+yard_pag1.html

Lateen Sail >> L Words
Lateen Sail, definition of term: Lateen Sail
lateen+sail_pag1.html