Sail Ship Boat Wind Seɪl Moved Full Days

• as the boat moved down the river the wind began to fill the sails.
• a ship under sail (= using sails)
• in the days of sail (= when ships all used sails)
• she moved away like a ship in full sail (= with all its sails spread out).

sail

1. a sheet of strong cloth which the wind blows against to make a boat or ship travel through the water
• As the boat moved down the river the wind began to fill the sails.
• a ship under sail (= using sails)
• in the days of sail (= when ships all used sails)
• She moved away like a ship in full sail (= with all its sails spread out).
• The vessel can be propelled by oars or sail (= sails).
2. a trip in a boat or ship
• We went for a sail.
• a two-hour sail across the bay
3. a set of boards attached to the arm of a windmill
4. to begin a trip by sea
• a liner setting sail from New York
• We set sail (for France) at high tide.
5. to make somebody suddenly less confident or angry, especially when you do or say something that they do not expect
• When I agreed to his suggestion at once, it really took the wind out of his sails.
6. to arrange the sails of a boat to suit the wind so that the boat moves faster
• See related entries: Travelling by boat or ship
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/topic/travelling_by_boat_or_ship/sail_5
7. to reduce your costs

Extra Examples

• The bay was full of boats with billowing sails.
• The boat is preserved as a monument to the days of sail.
• The dinghy gathered speed as the wind filled her sails.
• The sails caught the wind once more and they were on their way.
• The ship came in under sail and anchored near us.
• The white canvas sail hung limply against the mast.
• We set sail for France at first light.
• a pirate ship under full sail
• He took us for a sail up the river.
• In the afternoon they went for a sail.
• The island is a five-hour sail from the mainland.

Word Origin

• Old English segel (noun), seglian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zeil and German Segel (nouns).