A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Top-sail(l, n. Also: tope-, toppe- and -sall. Pl. also -salis. [ME and e.m.E. topseil (Gower), topte saile (1399), toppe-saill (16th c.).] A sail set above the lower sail on a ship, the highest sail. Also attrib. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1963.
So the Grekes to dissaif … That thar suld seme plane land … Quhare thai mycht hald thar cours saifly Tharfor with topsall all & sum Vpon the craggis suld cum 1535 Stewart 683.
Tha salit fast that tyme befoir the wynd With fuksaill, topsaill, manesall, musall, and blynd 1540 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS XIV 152.
The foir saill ane mane mesall ane small mesell ane blind & tua top salis 1549 Compl. 41/24 (see Top n.1 5).
Top salis ?1599 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 38b.
Deborset for canwas to be ane tope sall 1622-6 Bisset II 259/25.
The boitisman aw to have the top saillis of everie schip … or … ane rose nobill of compositioun 1656 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 1014.
It is ordanit that the vessell careing twa toppe sailles vplift of anckarage nyne shillings Scottisattrib. 1549 Compl. 41/16.
Hail on ȝour top sail scheitis, vire … ȝour top sail trossis, & heise the top sail hiear. Hail out the top sail boulene
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"Top-sail n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/top_saill>
