noun
- Light sails set above the skysails on a ship, used in favorable wind conditions.
Usage: nautical; plural form; singular is moonsail; archaic or historical
Examples
- The captain ordered the crew to unfurl the moonsails when the wind grew steady.
- In the age of sail, moonsails were among the highest sails a ship could carry.
- The moonsails caught the light breeze and helped the vessel gain speed.
- Only experienced sailors knew how to safely manage the moonsails during a voyage.