A triangular sail attached to the forestay of a sailing ship, positioned in front of the main sail to help catch wind and move the vessel forward.
Compound word from 'forestay' + 'sail,' originating in 16th-17th century maritime English when sailors developed specialized sails for each cable on the ship.
The forestaysail is a smaller sail, but sailors loved it because it was incredibly maneuverable—they could adjust it quickly to catch sudden wind shifts, making it essential for navigation in tricky waters.
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