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 

under \un"der\ u^n"d~er, prep. as. under, prep.  adv.;
   akin to ofries. under, os. undar, d. onder, g. unter, ohg.
   untar, icel. undir, sw.  dan. under, goth. undar, l. infra
   below, inferior lower, skr. adhas below. root201. cf.
   inferior.
   1. below or lower, in place or position, with the idea of
      being covered; lower than; beneath; -- opposed to over;
      as, he stood under a tree; the carriage is under cover; a
      cellar extends under the whole house.
      1913 webster

            fruit put in bottles, and the bottles let down into
            wells under water, will keep long.    --bacon.
      1913 webster

            be gathered now, ye waters under heaven,
            into one place.                       --milton.
      1913 webster

   2. hence, in many figurative uses which may be classified as
      follows; 
      1913 webster
      a denoting relation to some thing or person that is
          superior, weighs upon, oppresses, bows down, governs,
          directs, influences powerfully, or the like, in a
          relation of subjection, subordination, obligation,
          liability, or the like; as, to travel under a heavy
          load; to live under extreme oppression; to have
          fortitude under the evils of life; to have patience
          under pain, or under misfortunes; to behave like a
          christian under reproaches and injuries; under the
          pains and penalties of the law; the condition under
          which one enters upon an office; under the necessity
          of obeying the laws; under vows of chastity.
          1913 webster
          1913 webster

                both jews and gentiles . . . are all under sin.
                                                  --rom. iii. 9.
          1913 webster

                that led the embattled seraphim to war
                under thy conduct.                --milton.
          1913 webster

                who have their provand
                only for bearing burdens, and sore blows
                for sinking under them.           --shak.
          1913 webster
      b denoting relation to something that exceeds in rank or
          degree, in number, size, weight, age, or the like; in
          a relation of the less to the greater, of inferiority,
          or of falling short.
          1913 webster

                three sons he dying left under age. --spenser.
          1913 webster

                medicines take effect sometimes under, and
                sometimes above, the natural proportion of their
                virtue.                           --hooker.
          1913 webster

                there are several hundred parishes in england
                under twenty pounds a year.       --swift.
          1913 webster

                it was too great an honor for any man under a
                duke.                             --addison.
          1913 webster

   note: hence, it sometimes means at, with, or for, less than;
         as, he would not sell the horse under sixty dollars.
         1913 webster

               several young men could never leave the pulpit
               under half a dozen conceits.       --swift.
         1913 webster
      c denoting relation to something that comprehends or
          includes, that represents or designates, that
          furnishes a cover, pretext, pretense, or the like; as,
          he betrayed him under the guise of friendship;
          morpheus is represented under the figure of a boy
          asleep.
          1913 webster

                a crew who, under names of old renown . . .
                abused
                fanatic egypt.                    --milton.
          1913 webster

                mr. duke may be mentioned under the double
                capacity of a poet and a divine.  --felton.
          1913 webster

                under this head may come in the several contests
                and wars betwixt popes and the secular princes.
                                                  --c. leslie.
          1913 webster
      d less specifically, denoting the relation of being
          subject, of undergoing regard, treatment, or the like;
          as, a bill under discussion.
          1913 webster

                abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood,
                under amazement of their hideous change.
                                                  --milton.
          1913 webster

   under arms. mil.
      a drawn up fully armed and equipped.
      b enrolled for military service; as, the state has a
          million men under arms.

   under canvas.
      a naut. moved or propelled by sails; -- said of any
          vessel with her sail set, but especially of a steamer
          using her sails only, as distinguished from one under
          steam. under steam and canvas signifies that a vessel
          is using both means of propulsion.
      b mil. provided with, or sheltered in, tents.

   under fire, exposed to an enemy's fire; taking part in a
      battle or general engagement.

   under foot. see under foot, n.

   under ground, below the surface of the ground.

   under one's signature, with one's signature or name
      subscribed; attested or confirmed by one's signature. cf.
      the second note under over, prep.

   under sail. naut.
      a with anchor up, and under the influence of sails;
          moved by sails; in motion.
      b with sails set, though the anchor is down.
      c same as under canvas
      a, above. --totten.

   under sentence, having had one's sentence pronounced.

   under the breath, under one's breath, with low voice;
      very softly.

   under the lee naut., to the leeward; as, under the lee of
      the land.

   under the gun. under psychological pressure, such as the
      need to meet a pressing deadline; feeling pressured

   under water, below the surface of the water.

   under way, or under weigh naut., in a condition to make
      progress; having started.
      1913 webster
see also:
inferior over under arms under canvas under fire under foot 
foot under ground under one's signature over under sail 
under sentence under the breath under one's breath under the lee under the gun 
under water under way under weigh