trysail
/ˈtraɪseɪl/
noun
- A small, strong sail set on the mainmast of a sailing vessel, used in heavy weather instead of the mainsail.
- The trysail is much smaller than the regular sail, so it helps the boat survive strong winds.
- When the storm hit, the crew lowered the mainsail and raised the trysail to keep the ship stable.
- Experienced sailors know how to quickly rig a trysail when the weather turns bad.