Sail
/seɪl/noun
A piece of fabric used to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship.
Did you know?The term 'sail' has roots in ancient languages that evoke the imagery of stretching, akin to the wings of a bird taking flight, symbolizing freedom and exploration.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sel-
“to leap, to rise, to be elevated.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*salwō
“a piece of cloth, covering.”
Old English
OE
sægl
“a sail, a cloth for catching wind.”
Middle English
ME
sail
“a piece of cloth used for navigation.”
Modern English
English
sail
“the cloth structure used on boats and ships to harness wind.”